Pronunciation guide

How to pronounce cumin

KOO-min (US) or KYOO-min (UK); 'KUH-min' is also widely used

US/ˈkumɪn/

kumɪn

UK/ˈkjuːmɪn/

kjuːmɪn

New to IPA symbols? Read the IPA guide.

What “cumin” means

The flowering plant Cuminum cyminum, in the family Apiaceae.

Its aromatic long seed, used as a spice, notably in Indian, Middle Eastern, and Mexican cookery.

In a sentence

  • Cumin adds a warm, earthy note to curries and spice blends.
  • Cumin seeds are often toasted to boost their aroma before grinding.

Say it out loud a few times, then check yourself.

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Definitions and examples are derived from Wiktionary, used under CC BY-SA 4.0, then edited by QuickPronounce. Pronunciation data draws on CMUdict.