chutney

American  

[chuht-nee] / ˈtʃʌt ni /

Or chutnee

noun

chutneys plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• chutneys
  plural

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

See Examples For:

chutney chutneys

She gave her a homemade jar of chutney.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 17, 2026

"Today on the menu we have kitchari - a mix of daal and rice, with tomato chutney, halloumi and salad," the school cook says, as she serves the students.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2025

“I became a chutney cosmopolite,” he wrote, “and a raconteur of relish recipes.”

From Salon ● Jun. 2, 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

We immerse the potatoes in pots of boiling water, then set out cilantro, green onions, and spices, plus yogurt and mint bunches for the chutney.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

Someone instructs you to tear off pieces and dip them in the accompanying guava and plantain chutneys, silky chickpea curry and punchy pepper jelly, pooled around a peninsula of tangy cultured butter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026

On top, we put two chutneys and we add some Nasturtium just for the presentation.

From Salon ● Nov. 9, 2024

I always buy jams, pestos, chutneys, etc. to play with back in my home kitchen, or to keep on hand for gifts.

From Washington Times ● Jul. 18, 2023

Shoppers streamed in, sizing up winter produce, relishes and chutneys, fresh cuts of beef and more.

From New York Times ● Feb. 2, 2023

“These are for you,” she says, handing Ashima a cellophane-wrapped basket full of tinned pates and jars of cornichons and chutneys that Gogol knows his parents will never open or enjoy.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri