Millet Names in Tamil: Thinai, Samai, Varagu, Kambu & More
Certified organic food specialists · Sources: NIN Hyderabad, ICMR, USDA FoodData Central
If you are searching for millet names in Tamil, this is the quick reference. In Tamil, millets as a group are called சிறுதானியம் (Siruthaniyam) — literally “small grains” — a food family at the heart of traditional Tamil cooking. Below is each millet with its Tamil name in Tamil script and English, verified against our own millet names in Indian languages glossary.
Millet names in Tamil — full chart
| English | Tamil (தமிழ்) | Also known as |
|---|---|---|
| Foxtail millet | தினை (Thinai) | Kangni (Hindi), Korralu (Telugu), Navane (Kannada) |
| Little millet | சாமை (Samai) | Kutki, Saame, Samalu |
| Kodo millet | வரகு (Varagu) | Kodo / Kodra, Harka, Arikelu |
| Barnyard millet | குதிரைவாளி (Kuthiraivali) | Sanwa, Oodalu, Udalu |
| Pearl millet | கம்பு (Kambu) | Bajra, Sajje |
| Sorghum | சோளம் (Cholam) | Jowar, Jola |
| Finger millet | கேழ்வரகு / ராகி (Kezhvaragu / Ragi) | Ragi, Nachni, Marua |
| Proso millet | பனிவரகு (Pani Varagu) | Cheena, Baragu, Varigalu |
| Browntop millet | பால பயறு / குலசாமை (Pala pul / Kula Samai) | Korale (Kannada), Andu Korralu (Telugu) |
Browntop millet is a rare South-Indian grain and its Tamil name is not widely standardised — it is often just called சிறுதானியம். See our guides to browntop in Telugu and browntop in Kannada for its verified regional names.
The general Tamil words for millets
Millets as a family are called சிறுதானியம் (siruthaniyam) — “small grains.” The three best known in Tamil kitchens are கம்பு (kambu, pearl), சோளம் (cholam, sorghum) and கேழ்வரகு / ராகி (kezhvaragu / ragi, finger). The smaller Siridhanya millets — தினை, சாமை, வரகு, குதிரைவாளி, பனிவரகு — are the ones people most often look up by their Tamil names.
Millets in Tamil cooking (Siridhanya)
Five of these — தினை (thinai / foxtail), சாமை (samai / little), வரகு (varagu / kodo), குதிரைவாளி (kuthiraivali / barnyard) and பனிவரகு (pani varagu / proso) — are the Siridhanya millets used in traditional Tamil cooking, often in place of rice in pongal, upma, idli and dosa.
Buy these millets, unpolished
Shop unpolished millets · Positive (Siridhanya) millets · new to them? how to cook millets.
சிறுதானியங்களை தமிழில் சிறுதானியம் என்கிறோம். முக்கிய பெயர்கள்: தினை (foxtail), சாமை (little), வரகு (kodo), குதிரைவாளி (barnyard), கம்பு (pearl), சோளம் (sorghum), கேழ்வரகு / ராகி (finger), பனிவரகு (proso). அனைத்தும் சத்தானவை, பசையம் (gluten) இல்லாதவை.
Sources & References
- Orggu millet-names glossary (verified regional names across Indian languages)
- Indian Food Composition Tables (2017) — National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad / ICMR
