cardamom
nounUK /ˈkɑː.də.məm/ · US /ˈkɑɹ.də.məm/
Etymology Late Middle English, from Old French cardamome or Latin cardamōmum, from Ancient Greek καρδάμωμον (kardámōmon).
1
An herb, native to India (Elettaria cardamomum).
2
Seed of Elettaria cardamomum, used as a medicine and spice, especially in curry powder.
- As I’ve gotten older, that vitriol slowly transformed into acceptance, then adoration. The more I cooked at home and explored South Asian cuisine, the more I realized how important cardamom is.2026 January 25, Joy Saha, “Cardamom, the spice you’re missing”, in Salon, archived from the original on 26 Jan 2026:
3
Uncommon Synonym of grains of paradise, seeds or seed capsules of Aframomum melegueta, of East Africa.
- Synonyms
- elaichi, queen of spices
- Derived terms
- African cardamom, black cardamom, Cardamom Mountains, green cardamom, large cardamom