Glossary entry

Hindi term or phrase:

sikakai & Kattha

English translation:

two substances/products derived from different varieties of acacia

Aug 18, 2007 12:23
16 yrs ago
Hindi term

sikakai & Kattha

Hindi to English Science Food & Drink Indian Herbs
"Sikakai" is something which is used as an ingredient of some shampoo.
"Katha (Kattha)" is taken along with Paan (Beetle leaf)

Is any nearest English translation of the above two words available?

Thanking in anticipation,

Hindi translator,
Language Aide

Discussion

Rajan Chopra Aug 18, 2007:
Alternatively, you may use these Hindi words, put a star mark on them and them explain them in the foot notes.
Rajan Chopra Aug 18, 2007:
Since Englishmen don't chew paan in the daily life unlike Indians, it appears that they have not evolved a common or localized word for these objects. You may perhaps use the Hindi word itself and explain them in brackets in the first occurence.
Localized english word. Thanks for the help.

However, I had alrady managed to find the scientific names of these words. Actually, I wanted to know if there are any localized English expressions of these terms. For example, "Amla" may have a scientific name, but its nearest translation in English could be like "Indian gooseberry".

Thanks!

Proposed translations

+1
14 hrs
Selected

two substances/products derived from different varieties of acacia

Your answer may depend upon the context, what the other products are, etc.

As both are products of acacia species, you may find it useful to phrase your translation in these terms.

for info see wikipedia:

Shikakai means "fruit for hair" and is a traditional shampoo used in India. It is made from Acacia concinna, a small shrub native to the warm, dry plains of ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shikakai

Catechu (also known as cutch, cashoo, or Japan earth) is an extract of any of several species of Acacia—but especially Acacia catechu—produced by boiling ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catechu - 16k

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Note added at 14 hrs (2007-08-19 03:00:25 GMT)
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As far as I know, the Indian names are the only ones known abroad.
Peer comment(s):

agree georgina singh
11 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thanks"
14 mins

शिकाकाई =सीकाकाई = A prickly bush, Acacia Concinna/कत्था= catechu Terra japonica

कत्था is an astringent and narcotic vegetable extract from the plant or tree Aracia catechu (eaten in betel leaf with lime, which it turns red)
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17 days

soap nut powder and Katha are leaves that are dried and ground and mixed with the shikakai to clean

The fruit of the acacia is ground and used instead of shampoo to wash and clean hair. Katha are herbal leaves also dried and made into powder and mixed with the shikakai. Katha is also used in hair dyes.
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