chutney

American  

[chuht-nee] / ˈtʃʌt ni /

Or chutnee

noun

plural

chutneys

1. a sauce or relish of East Indian origin, often compounded of both sweet and sour ingredients, as fruits and herbs, with spices and other seasoning.

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chutney British  

/ ˈtʃʌtnɪ /

noun

1. a pickle of Indian origin, made from fruit, vinegar, spices, sugar, etc

   mango chutney

2. a type of music popular in the Caribbean Asian community, much influenced by calypso

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Etymology

Origin of chutney

First recorded in 1805–15, chutney is from the Hindi word chatnī

Explanation

Chutney is an Indian condiment that adds a sweet, spicy flavor to your food. When you eat at an Indian restaurant, you can ask for extra chutney on the side. Some chutneys resemble jam — and, in fact, many types are made with fruit that's been cooked or pickled in vinegar, lemon, or tamarind, and often sugar. Other chutney is made with vegetables and flavored with various spices. European chutneys tend to be sweet, while in India they're just as likely to be very hot and spicy. The word chutney has a Sanskrit root, caṭnī, "to lick."

Example Sentences

Vitamins, repair tape and a jar of mango chutney - just some of what my household bought last month via Amazon's sprawling online shopping platform.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

She gave her a homemade jar of chutney.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 17, 2026

The curried goat patties were a ten out of ten, elevated by a surprising mango chutney.

From Salon • Oct. 31, 2025

I’m campaigning for them to add the slice from Bridgetown Roti, with honey-jerk chicken and mango chutney, to the permanent menu.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2025

Along with the samosas, there are breaded chicken cutlets, chickpeas with tamarind sauce, lamb biryani, chutney made with tomatoes from the garden.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri