biryani
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of biryani
1930–35; < Hindi, Urdu biryānī from Persian biryan “fried, roasted”
Explanation
If you're in the mood for a vibrant, customizable Indian rice dish packed with spices, vegetables, and meats, then biryani is the perfect choice. The word biryani is likely derived from the Persian word birinj, "rice," or biryan, "to fry." The dish may have originated in Iran, but was later adapted into the popular Indian dish known today. There are many variations of biryani from different regions of India. Some are very spicy, while others have a milder flavor. Biryani is often served at celebrations and family gatherings throughout South Asia. It's traditionally made by layering long-grain Basmati rice with a protein and vegetables. The complex mix of spices in biryani often includes saffron or turmeric, which give it a bright yellow hue.
Vocabulary lists containing biryani
World Cuisine - Middle School and High School
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Foods from Asia
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Inside, they found lavish surroundings, wedding-banquet style spreads of biryani, kebabs and gulab jamun, along with gourmet coffee blended from Brazilian and Ethiopian beans.
From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026
The festivities included a city parade, where one Dena sailor, speaking to an independent journalist, Samson Sagar, marveled at the flavor of biryani, an Indian rice dish he had sampled.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
Mouth-watering kebabs, fragrant biryani and whipped cloud-like desserts.
From BBC • Dec. 19, 2025
The polls had just closed as I hovered outside Kabab King, the fluorescent-lit, late-night biryani joint that Zohran Mamdani calls his favorite restaurant.
From Slate • Nov. 5, 2025
Mama takes out a pot of biryani from the fridge and hands me white Styrofoam boxes to fill.
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
