tikka masala

/ˌtiːkə məˈsɑːlə//ˌtɪkə məˈsɑːlə/

adjective

Of a style of Indian dish in which the main ingredient (such as chicken) is marinated, usually (but not necessarily) cooked in a tandoor and served in a masala sauce.

OriginHindi टिक्का मसाला →
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

adjectivetikka masala (not comparable)
  1. not comparableOf a style of Indian dish in which the main ingredient (such as chicken) is marinated, usually (but not necessarily) cooked in a tandoor and served in a masala sauce.
nountikka masala (plural tikka masalas)

plural tikka masalas

  1. A dish prepared in this manner.

Origin

  1. Hindiटिक्का मसाला“spicy pieces”
  2. Englishtikka masala

First attested in the 1970s. Borrowed from Hindi टिक्का मसाला (ṭikkā masālā, “spicy pieces”).

More words from Hindi

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic تِيكَّا مَاسَالَا
  • تِيكَّا مَاسَالَا (tīkkā māsālā)Indian marinade served in a masala sauce
French tikka masala
  • tikka masalaIndian marinade served in a masala sauce
Greek τίκα μασάλα
  • τίκα μασάλα (tíka masála)Indian marinade served in a masala sauce
Hebrew טִיקָה מָסָאלָה
  • טִיקָה מָסָאלָה (tíka masalá)Indian marinade served in a masala sauce
Hindi टिक्का मसाला
  • टिक्का मसाला (ṭikkā masālā)Indian marinade served in a masala sauce
Japanese ティッカマサラ
  • ティッカマサラ (tikka masara)Indian marinade served in a masala sauce
Korean 티카 마살라
  • 티카 마살라 (tika masalla)Indian marinade served in a masala sauce
Persian تِکه مَصالَح
  • تِکه مَصالَح (tikâ masâlâh)Indian marinade served in a masala sauce
Polish tikka masala
  • tikka masalaIndian marinade served in a masala sauce
Russian ти́кка маса́ла
  • ти́кка маса́ла (tíkka masála)Indian marinade served in a masala sauce
Urdu تکا مصالہ
  • تکا مصالہ (tikā masālāh)Indian marinade served in a masala sauce

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with tikka masala

galaimpalaUppsalakoalaValhallatalamasalapalaSinhalakamalachallahnyalamancalawallahalcavalaimalalauhalalicualatambalatrehala
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

tikka masala. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tikka%20masala

MLA

“tikka masala.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tikka%20masala. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tikka masala,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tikka%20masala.

Source: tikka masala on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.