What does paratha mean?
A paratha is a South Asian flatbread made from a simple wheat-flour dough. Unlike leavened breads, a traditional paratha generally contains no yeast, and its dough is often worked and rolled in ways that create distinct flaky layers. It is cooked on a hot griddle until the surface is lightly browned and the interior remains soft. Plain parathas are commonly served with butter, yogurt, pickles, chutneys, curries, dal, or vegetables, while stuffed versions may contain potatoes, paneer, minced meat, or other fillings. The term is most closely associated with South Asian cooking and is now widely used in English-language restaurant menus and food writing. It is sometimes compared with roti or chapati, but paratha is generally distinguished by its characteristic layered texture and the rolling techniques used to produce it.
nounA flatbread from South Asia, traditionally made without yeast and often rolled or folded to create flaky layers. It may be served plain or with dishes such as curries, vegetables, yogurt, or chutney.
- A South Asian flatbread, usually made from wheat flour and water and often cooked on a hot griddle until lightly browned and layered.
"We had a warm paratha with butter and a bowl of dal for breakfast."
"She folded the paratha around the spiced potatoes."
"The restaurant serves paratha with a choice of curries and chutneys."
The standard plural is parathas, although the unchanged form paratha is sometimes used when referring to a type or serving of the bread.
"The shop sells freshly made parathas with several kinds of curry."
Unlike many familiar breads, a traditional paratha is unleavened and can be cooked to develop delicate, flaky layers.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does paratha come from?
The English word comes from Hindi पराठा (parāṭhā), a term for this style of flatbread, and is also used in related South Asian languages. Its English culinary use developed through contact with the food cultures of the Indian subcontinent. The exact deeper historical origin of the term is less certain, so it is best understood as a direct South Asian loanword rather than assigned a precise ancient derivation.
How paratha is actually used
Paratha is especially common in Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nepalese, and Punjabi culinary contexts. In English, it generally refers to a flaky or layered unleavened flatbread, although regional names and recipes vary. The word is often used in British and North American writing when discussing South Asian food.