Interpreter of Maladies

This section presents terms and phrases that are central to understanding the text and may present a challenge to the reader. Use this list to create a vocabulary quiz or worksheet, to prepare flashcards for a standardized test, or to inspire classroom word games and other group activities.

1. chutney (noun):

An Indian condiment made of preserved fruit or vegetables and spices, vinegar, and sugar, served alongside many Indian dishes

“When friends dropped by, Shoba would throw together meals that appeared to have taken half a day to prepare, from things she had frozen and bottled, not cheap things in tins but peppers she had marinated herself with rosemary, and chutneys that she cooked on Sundays, stirring boiling pots of tomatoes and prunes.” (“A Temporary Matter,” Page 7)

2. bazaar (noun):

an open-air market common throughout South Asia and the Middle East

“He tried to locate a candle among the scissors, the eggbeaters and whisks, the mortar and pestle she’d bought in a bazaar in Calcutta, and used to pound garlic cloves and cardamom in pods, back when she used to cook.” (“A Temporary Matter,” Page 8)

3. rogan josh (noun):

A Kashmiri dish of curried meat, typically lamb or goat, in a spicy tomato-based sauce, that cooks at a low heat for a long time