🌱 Seed Vocab
Seed names show up in all kinds of places, from breakfast toppings and spice jars to the fruit you spit out. Some seeds appear on the spices page too, because cooks use them as seasoning. These are the names you’ll find on bags and labels.
🥣 Breakfast & Snack Seeds
⚫ Chia Seeds
tiny seeds that gel in liquid
Example: Chia pudding. Flax also thickens, but it needs grinding to give up its oil.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de chia
🇩🇪 German: Chiasamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di chia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de chia
💡 Nuance: Basil seeds look similar and also gel. Chia is the supermarket pudding seed.
tiny seeds that gel in liquid
Example: Chia pudding. Flax also thickens, but it needs grinding to give up its oil.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de chía🇫🇷 French: Graines de chia
🇩🇪 German: Chiasamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di chia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de chia
💡 Nuance: Basil seeds look similar and also gel. Chia is the supermarket pudding seed.
🟤 Flax Seeds
flat brown or golden seeds, often ground
Example: Ground flax in oatmeal. Whole flax can pass through undigested.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de lin
🇩🇪 German: Leinsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di lino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de linhaça
💡 Nuance: Also called linseed. Hemp seeds are softer and nuttier, not gelatinous.
flat brown or golden seeds, often ground
Example: Ground flax in oatmeal. Whole flax can pass through undigested.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de lino🇫🇷 French: Graines de lin
🇩🇪 German: Leinsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di lino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de linhaça
💡 Nuance: Also called linseed. Hemp seeds are softer and nuttier, not gelatinous.
⚪ Sesame Seeds
small oil seeds, white, tan, or black
Example: Sesame on a bun. Tahini is the paste.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de sésame
🇩🇪 German: Sesamsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di sesamo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de sésamo
💡 Nuance: Black sesame is the same plant, stronger flavor. Poppy seeds are smaller and blue-gray.
small oil seeds, white, tan, or black
Example: Sesame on a bun. Tahini is the paste.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de sésamo🇫🇷 French: Graines de sésame
🇩🇪 German: Sesamsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di sesamo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de sésamo
💡 Nuance: Black sesame is the same plant, stronger flavor. Poppy seeds are smaller and blue-gray.
🌻 Sunflower Seeds
striped or black shells with a gray kernel
Example: Sunflower seeds at a game. Pumpkin seeds are flatter and green inside.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de tournesol
🇩🇪 German: Sonnenblumenkerne
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di girasole
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de girassol
💡 Nuance: Kernel is the hulled seed. Squash seeds overlap with pumpkin seeds.
striped or black shells with a gray kernel
Example: Sunflower seeds at a game. Pumpkin seeds are flatter and green inside.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pipas / semillas de girasol🇫🇷 French: Graines de tournesol
🇩🇪 German: Sonnenblumenkerne
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di girasole
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de girassol
💡 Nuance: Kernel is the hulled seed. Squash seeds overlap with pumpkin seeds.
🎃 Pumpkin Seeds
flat seeds, green when hulled - also called pepitas
Example: Pepitas on a salad. Squash seeds are the wider garden name.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de courge
🇩🇪 German: Kürbiskerne
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di zucca
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de abóbora
💡 Nuance: Pepita usually means the green hulled seed. Watermelon seeds are a different snack.
flat seeds, green when hulled - also called pepitas
Example: Pepitas on a salad. Squash seeds are the wider garden name.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pepitas / semillas de calabaza🇫🇷 French: Graines de courge
🇩🇪 German: Kürbiskerne
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di zucca
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de abóbora
💡 Nuance: Pepita usually means the green hulled seed. Watermelon seeds are a different snack.
🌿 Hemp Seeds
soft, nutty seeds from industrial hemp
Example: Hulled hemp seeds on yogurt. They do not gel like chia.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de chanvre
🇩🇪 German: Hanfsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di canapa
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de cânhamo
💡 Nuance: Food hemp is a seed, not a spice. Sacha inchi is another soft oil seed from the Amazon.
soft, nutty seeds from industrial hemp
Example: Hulled hemp seeds on yogurt. They do not gel like chia.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de cáñamo🇫🇷 French: Graines de chanvre
🇩🇪 German: Hanfsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di canapa
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de cânhamo
💡 Nuance: Food hemp is a seed, not a spice. Sacha inchi is another soft oil seed from the Amazon.
🔵 Poppy Seeds
tiny blue-gray seeds used on breads and in filling
Example: Poppy-seed bagel. Sesame is the paler bun seed.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de pavot
🇩🇪 German: Mohnsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di papavero
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de papoila
💡 Nuance: Culinary poppy is the bread seed. Not a spice like cumin.
tiny blue-gray seeds used on breads and in filling
Example: Poppy-seed bagel. Sesame is the paler bun seed.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de amapola🇫🇷 French: Graines de pavot
🇩🇪 German: Mohnsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di papavero
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de papoila
💡 Nuance: Culinary poppy is the bread seed. Not a spice like cumin.
🌶️ Spice-Jar Seeds
🟡 Mustard Seeds
small round seeds - yellow, brown, or black - that pop in hot oil
Example: Mustard seeds in tadka. The paste on a hot dog starts from these.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de moutarde
🇩🇪 German: Senfkörner
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di senape
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de mostarda
💡 Nuance: On the spices page too. Here they count as whole seeds.
small round seeds - yellow, brown, or black - that pop in hot oil
Example: Mustard seeds in tadka. The paste on a hot dog starts from these.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de mostaza🇫🇷 French: Graines de moutarde
🇩🇪 German: Senfkörner
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di senape
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de mostarda
💡 Nuance: On the spices page too. Here they count as whole seeds.
🌿 Fennel Seeds
green-brown seeds that taste like mild licorice
Example: Fennel seeds after an Indian meal. Anise seeds are stronger and smaller.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de fenouil
🇩🇪 German: Fenchelsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di finocchio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de funcho
💡 Nuance: Same plant family as the bulb. Caraway leans earthier and rye-bread.
green-brown seeds that taste like mild licorice
Example: Fennel seeds after an Indian meal. Anise seeds are stronger and smaller.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de hinojo🇫🇷 French: Graines de fenouil
🇩🇪 German: Fenchelsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di finocchio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de funcho
💡 Nuance: Same plant family as the bulb. Caraway leans earthier and rye-bread.
🍞 Caraway Seeds
curved brown seeds with a rye-bread, earthy anise note
Example: Caraway in rye bread. Fennel is sweeter. Cumin is warmer and more chili-pot.
🇫🇷 French: Carvi
🇩🇪 German: Kümmel
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di carvi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Alcaravia
💡 Nuance: Easy to mix with cumin in a jar. Smell them. Caraway is rye. Cumin is taco.
curved brown seeds with a rye-bread, earthy anise note
Example: Caraway in rye bread. Fennel is sweeter. Cumin is warmer and more chili-pot.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Alcaravea🇫🇷 French: Carvi
🇩🇪 German: Kümmel
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di carvi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Alcaravia
💡 Nuance: Easy to mix with cumin in a jar. Smell them. Caraway is rye. Cumin is taco.
🟤 Cumin Seeds
warm, earthy seeds used in Mexican, Indian, and Middle Eastern cooking
Example: Cumin seeds toasted for chili. Caraway would take the pot toward rye bread.
🇫🇷 French: Cumin
🇩🇪 German: Kreuzkümmel
🇮🇹 Italian: Cumino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cominhos
💡 Nuance: Whole seed vs. ground cumin. Same spice, different moment in the pan.
warm, earthy seeds used in Mexican, Indian, and Middle Eastern cooking
Example: Cumin seeds toasted for chili. Caraway would take the pot toward rye bread.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Comino🇫🇷 French: Cumin
🇩🇪 German: Kreuzkümmel
🇮🇹 Italian: Cumino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cominhos
💡 Nuance: Whole seed vs. ground cumin. Same spice, different moment in the pan.
🟡 Coriander Seeds
round, citrusy seeds from the cilantro plant
Example: Cracked coriander seeds in a pickle brine. Cilantro is the leaf.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de coriandre
🇩🇪 German: Koriandersamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di coriandolo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de coentro
💡 Nuance: Seed is warm and lemony. The leaf is the herb people argue about.
round, citrusy seeds from the cilantro plant
Example: Cracked coriander seeds in a pickle brine. Cilantro is the leaf.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de cilantro / coriandro🇫🇷 French: Graines de coriandre
🇩🇪 German: Koriandersamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di coriandolo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de coentro
💡 Nuance: Seed is warm and lemony. The leaf is the herb people argue about.
⚫ Nigella Seeds
small black seeds with a peppery, onion-like bite
Example: Nigella on naan. Not black sesame.
🇫🇷 French: Nigelle
🇩🇪 German: Schwarzkümmel
🇮🇹 Italian: Nigella
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Nigela
💡 Nuance: Also called kalonji. Poppy seeds are bluer and milder.
small black seeds with a peppery, onion-like bite
Example: Nigella on naan. Not black sesame.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de nigella🇫🇷 French: Nigelle
🇩🇪 German: Schwarzkümmel
🇮🇹 Italian: Nigella
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Nigela
💡 Nuance: Also called kalonji. Poppy seeds are bluer and milder.
🥬 Celery Seeds
tiny brown seeds that taste like concentrated celery
Example: Celery seed in coleslaw dressing. Dill seed is more pickle.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de céleri
🇩🇪 German: Selleriesamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di sedano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de aipo
💡 Nuance: Stronger than the stalk. Garden cress seeds are a different peppery sprouting seed.
tiny brown seeds that taste like concentrated celery
Example: Celery seed in coleslaw dressing. Dill seed is more pickle.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de apio🇫🇷 French: Graines de céleri
🇩🇪 German: Selleriesamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di sedano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de aipo
💡 Nuance: Stronger than the stalk. Garden cress seeds are a different peppery sprouting seed.
🥒 Dill Seeds
flat seeds with a warmer, pickle-barrel flavor
Example: Dill seed in cucumber brine. Dill weed is the feathery leaf.
🇫🇷 French: Graines d’aneth
🇩🇪 German: Dillsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di aneto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de endro
💡 Nuance: Seed is warmer than the herb. Caraway is the rye cousin.
flat seeds with a warmer, pickle-barrel flavor
Example: Dill seed in cucumber brine. Dill weed is the feathery leaf.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de eneldo🇫🇷 French: Graines d’aneth
🇩🇪 German: Dillsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di aneto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de endro
💡 Nuance: Seed is warmer than the herb. Caraway is the rye cousin.
🍁 Fenugreek Seeds
hard yellow-brown seeds with a maple-bitter smell when toasted
Example: Fenugreek in a curry mix. A little goes a long way.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de fenugrec
🇩🇪 German: Bockshornkleesamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di fieno greco
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de feno-grego
💡 Nuance: Methi when the leaves are the ingredient. The seed is this hard cube.
hard yellow-brown seeds with a maple-bitter smell when toasted
Example: Fenugreek in a curry mix. A little goes a long way.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de fenogreco🇫🇷 French: Graines de fenugrec
🇩🇪 German: Bockshornkleesamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di fieno greco
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de feno-grego
💡 Nuance: Methi when the leaves are the ingredient. The seed is this hard cube.
🍬 Anise Seeds
small licorice-sweet seeds
Example: Anise in a cookie. Fennel is milder. Star anise is a different spice shaped like a star.
🇫🇷 French: Graines d’anis
🇩🇪 German: Anissamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di anice
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de anis
💡 Nuance: Anise seed, not star anise. Same flavor family, different plant.
small licorice-sweet seeds
Example: Anise in a cookie. Fennel is milder. Star anise is a different spice shaped like a star.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de anís🇫🇷 French: Graines d’anis
🇩🇪 German: Anissamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di anice
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de anis
💡 Nuance: Anise seed, not star anise. Same flavor family, different plant.
🌱 Herb, Grain & Oil Seeds
🟣 Basil Seeds
tiny black seeds that swell into a gel, used in drinks
Example: Basil seeds in a falooda. They look like chia once soaked.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de basilic
🇩🇪 German: Basilikumsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di basilico
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de manjericão
💡 Nuance: Sabja / tukmaria. Same gel trick as chia, different plant.
tiny black seeds that swell into a gel, used in drinks
Example: Basil seeds in a falooda. They look like chia once soaked.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de albahaca🇫🇷 French: Graines de basilic
🇩🇪 German: Basilikumsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di basilico
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de manjericão
💡 Nuance: Sabja / tukmaria. Same gel trick as chia, different plant.
🍃 Perilla Seeds
oil seeds from the shiso / perilla plant
Example: Toasted perilla seeds in Korean seasoning. The leaf is shiso.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de périlla
🇩🇪 German: Perillasamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di perilla
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de perilla
💡 Nuance: Seed vs. leaf. Sesame is the closer pantry lookalike.
oil seeds from the shiso / perilla plant
Example: Toasted perilla seeds in Korean seasoning. The leaf is shiso.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de perilla🇫🇷 French: Graines de périlla
🇩🇪 German: Perillasamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di perilla
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de perilla
💡 Nuance: Seed vs. leaf. Sesame is the closer pantry lookalike.
🌱 Garden Cress Seeds
pepper-hot sprouting seeds
Example: Garden cress sprouts on an egg sandwich. Celery seed is the spice-jar cousin, not the sprout.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de cresson alénois
🇩🇪 German: Kressesamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di crescione
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de agrião-de-jardim
💡 Nuance: Grown for shoots more than for a dry spice sprinkle.
pepper-hot sprouting seeds
Example: Garden cress sprouts on an egg sandwich. Celery seed is the spice-jar cousin, not the sprout.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de berro de jardín🇫🇷 French: Graines de cresson alénois
🇩🇪 German: Kressesamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di crescione
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de agrião-de-jardim
💡 Nuance: Grown for shoots more than for a dry spice sprinkle.
🌾 Amaranth Seeds
tiny pseudo-grain seeds that pop like miniature popcorn
Example: Puffed amaranth in a bar. Not a spice seed.
🇫🇷 French: Graines d’amarante
🇩🇪 German: Amaranthsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di amaranto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de amaranto
💡 Nuance: Cooked as a grain. Chia is a gel seed, not a porridge grain in the same way.
tiny pseudo-grain seeds that pop like miniature popcorn
Example: Puffed amaranth in a bar. Not a spice seed.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de amaranto🇫🇷 French: Graines d’amarante
🇩🇪 German: Amaranthsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di amaranto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de amaranto
💡 Nuance: Cooked as a grain. Chia is a gel seed, not a porridge grain in the same way.
💚 Sacha Inchi Seeds
Amazon oil seeds with a mild nutty taste
Example: Roasted sacha inchi as a snack. Hemp seeds fill a similar soft-oil job.
🇫🇷 French: Sacha inchi
🇩🇪 German: Sacha-Inchi-Samen
🇮🇹 Italian: Sacha inchi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sacha inchi
💡 Nuance: Also called Inca peanut. Still a seed, not a peanut.
Amazon oil seeds with a mild nutty taste
Example: Roasted sacha inchi as a snack. Hemp seeds fill a similar soft-oil job.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Sacha inchi🇫🇷 French: Sacha inchi
🇩🇪 German: Sacha-Inchi-Samen
🇮🇹 Italian: Sacha inchi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sacha inchi
💡 Nuance: Also called Inca peanut. Still a seed, not a peanut.
🍉 Fruit & Garden Seeds
🌸 Lotus Seeds
starchy seeds from the lotus pod, eaten fresh, dried, or in sweets
Example: Dried lotus seeds in a soup. They cook like a mild bean, not like chia.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de lotus
🇩🇪 German: Lotossamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di loto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de lótus
💡 Nuance: Lian zi in Chinese kitchens. A food seed, not a sprinkle.
starchy seeds from the lotus pod, eaten fresh, dried, or in sweets
Example: Dried lotus seeds in a soup. They cook like a mild bean, not like chia.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de loto🇫🇷 French: Graines de lotus
🇩🇪 German: Lotossamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di loto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de lótus
💡 Nuance: Lian zi in Chinese kitchens. A food seed, not a sprinkle.
🍉 Watermelon Seeds
flat black or mottled seeds, eaten roasted in many countries
Example: Roasted watermelon seeds. Pumpkin seeds are the green hulled rival.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de pastèque
🇩🇪 German: Wassermelonensamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di anguria
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de melancia
💡 Nuance: Snack seed. Cantaloupe seeds are softer and less common as a snack.
flat black or mottled seeds, eaten roasted in many countries
Example: Roasted watermelon seeds. Pumpkin seeds are the green hulled rival.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de sandía🇫🇷 French: Graines de pastèque
🇩🇪 German: Wassermelonensamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di anguria
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de melancia
💡 Nuance: Snack seed. Cantaloupe seeds are softer and less common as a snack.
🧡 Papaya Seeds
small black seeds inside papaya, peppery when crushed
Example: A few crushed papaya seeds in a dressing. They taste closer to pepper than to chia.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de papaye
🇩🇪 German: Papayasamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di papaya
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de papaia
💡 Nuance: Usually scooped out. A garnish or pepper stand-in, not a breakfast seed.
small black seeds inside papaya, peppery when crushed
Example: A few crushed papaya seeds in a dressing. They taste closer to pepper than to chia.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de papaya🇫🇷 French: Graines de papaye
🇩🇪 German: Papayasamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di papaya
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de papaia
💡 Nuance: Usually scooped out. A garnish or pepper stand-in, not a breakfast seed.
❤️ Pomegranate Seeds
the juicy arils of the fruit - seed plus pulp
Example: Pomegranate seeds on a salad. People mean the whole ruby aril, not a dry spice seed.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de grenade
🇩🇪 German: Granatapfelkerne
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di melograno
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de romã
💡 Nuance: Culinary English says seeds. Botanically they are arils. Grape seeds are the bitter pips you usually spit.
the juicy arils of the fruit - seed plus pulp
Example: Pomegranate seeds on a salad. People mean the whole ruby aril, not a dry spice seed.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de granada🇫🇷 French: Graines de grenade
🇩🇪 German: Granatapfelkerne
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di melograno
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de romã
💡 Nuance: Culinary English says seeds. Botanically they are arils. Grape seeds are the bitter pips you usually spit.
🍇 Grape Seeds
small bitter pips inside grapes, also pressed for oil
Example: Grape-seed oil in a pan. You do not sprinkle grape seeds like sesame.
🇫🇷 French: Pépins de raisin
🇩🇪 German: Traubenkerne
🇮🇹 Italian: Vinaccioli
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de uva
💡 Nuance: Oil crop more than a snack. Apple seeds are also not an eating seed.
small bitter pips inside grapes, also pressed for oil
Example: Grape-seed oil in a pan. You do not sprinkle grape seeds like sesame.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de uva🇫🇷 French: Pépins de raisin
🇩🇪 German: Traubenkerne
🇮🇹 Italian: Vinaccioli
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de uva
💡 Nuance: Oil crop more than a snack. Apple seeds are also not an eating seed.
🍎 Apple Seeds
small brown pips in the core - not used as a food seed
Example: Apple seeds stay in the core. They are on lists because people ask about them, not because they go on yogurt.
🇫🇷 French: Pépins de pomme
🇩🇪 German: Apfelkerne
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di mela
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de maçã
💡 Nuance: Not a pantry seed. Swallowing a few by accident is ordinary. They are not chia.
small brown pips in the core - not used as a food seed
Example: Apple seeds stay in the core. They are on lists because people ask about them, not because they go on yogurt.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de manzana🇫🇷 French: Pépins de pomme
🇩🇪 German: Apfelkerne
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di mela
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de maçã
💡 Nuance: Not a pantry seed. Swallowing a few by accident is ordinary. They are not chia.
🍈 Cantaloupe Seeds
soft pale seeds from melon
Example: Some kitchens roast cantaloupe seeds. Watermelon seeds are the more common snack.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de cantaloup
🇩🇪 German: Cantaloupe-Samen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di cantalupo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de cantalupo
💡 Nuance: Usually discarded. A melon seed, not a spice.
soft pale seeds from melon
Example: Some kitchens roast cantaloupe seeds. Watermelon seeds are the more common snack.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de cantalupo🇫🇷 French: Graines de cantaloup
🇩🇪 German: Cantaloupe-Samen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di cantalupo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de cantalupo
💡 Nuance: Usually discarded. A melon seed, not a spice.
🎃 Squash Seeds
seeds from winter or summer squash - pumpkin seeds sit in this family
Example: Roasted squash seeds from a butternut. The bag may still say pumpkin seeds.
🇫🇷 French: Graines de courge
🇩🇪 German: Kürbissamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di zucca
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de abóbora
💡 Nuance: Parent name. Pepitas are the hulled green ones sold as pumpkin seeds.
seeds from winter or summer squash - pumpkin seeds sit in this family
Example: Roasted squash seeds from a butternut. The bag may still say pumpkin seeds.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semillas de calabaza🇫🇷 French: Graines de courge
🇩🇪 German: Kürbissamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di zucca
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sementes de abóbora
💡 Nuance: Parent name. Pepitas are the hulled green ones sold as pumpkin seeds.
🧠 Useful Distinctions
⚫ Chia vs. 🟣 Basil seeds
Both gel in liquid. Chia is the breakfast seed. Basil seeds are the drink seed (sabja).
Both gel in liquid. Chia is the breakfast seed. Basil seeds are the drink seed (sabja).
🎃 Pumpkin seeds vs. Squash seeds vs. pepitas
Squash is the family. Pumpkin is the common bag. Pepitas are usually the green hulled seeds.
Squash is the family. Pumpkin is the common bag. Pepitas are usually the green hulled seeds.
🍞 Caraway vs. 🟤 Cumin vs. 🌿 Fennel vs. 🍬 Anise
Caraway is rye. Cumin is chili-warm. Fennel is mild licorice. Anise is stronger licorice. Star anise is a different spice.
Caraway is rye. Cumin is chili-warm. Fennel is mild licorice. Anise is stronger licorice. Star anise is a different spice.
🟡 Coriander seeds vs. cilantro
Same plant. Seed is citrus-warm. Leaf is the herb.
Same plant. Seed is citrus-warm. Leaf is the herb.
⚫ Nigella vs. ⚪ black sesame vs. 🔵 poppy
Nigella is peppery. Sesame is nutty. Poppy is mild and blue-gray.
Nigella is peppery. Sesame is nutty. Poppy is mild and blue-gray.
❤️ Pomegranate seeds vs. 🍇 grape seeds
Pomegranate seeds are the juicy arils you eat. Grape seeds are bitter pips.
Pomegranate seeds are the juicy arils you eat. Grape seeds are bitter pips.
🌾 Amaranth vs. 🥣 chia
Amaranth cooks as a tiny grain. Chia gels.
Amaranth cooks as a tiny grain. Chia gels.
💬 Everyday Seed Phrases
⚫ Chia gels. Flax should be ground.
two breakfast seeds
🇫🇷 Le chia gélifie. Le lin se moud.
🇩🇪 Chia geliert. Lein sollte man mahlen.
🇮🇹 I semi di chia gelificano. Il lino va macinato.
🇵🇹 A chia faz gel. A linhaça moída.
two breakfast seeds
Show translations
🇪🇸 La chía hace gel. El lino se muele.🇫🇷 Le chia gélifie. Le lin se moud.
🇩🇪 Chia geliert. Lein sollte man mahlen.
🇮🇹 I semi di chia gelificano. Il lino va macinato.
🇵🇹 A chia faz gel. A linhaça moída.
🍞 That is caraway, not cumin.
rye vs. taco
🇫🇷 C’est du carvi, pas du cumin.
🇩🇪 Das ist Kümmel, nicht Kreuzkümmel.
🇮🇹 È carvi, non cumino.
🇵🇹 Isso é alcaravia, não cominhos.
rye vs. taco
Show translations
🇪🇸 Eso es alcaravea, no comino.🇫🇷 C’est du carvi, pas du cumin.
🇩🇪 Das ist Kümmel, nicht Kreuzkümmel.
🇮🇹 È carvi, non cumino.
🇵🇹 Isso é alcaravia, não cominhos.
❤️ Pomegranate seeds means the juicy bits, not dry pips.
arils
🇫🇷 Les graines de grenade, ce sont les arilles juteux.
🇩🇪 Granatapfelkerne meint das Saftige.
🇮🇹 I semi di melograno sono gli arilli succosi.
🇵🇹 Sementes de romã são os bagos suculentos.
arils
Show translations
🇪🇸 Semillas de granada son los granos jugosos.🇫🇷 Les graines de grenade, ce sont les arilles juteux.
🇩🇪 Granatapfelkerne meint das Saftige.
🇮🇹 I semi di melograno sono gli arilli succosi.
🇵🇹 Sementes de romã são os bagos suculentos.
🎃 Pepitas are hulled pumpkin seeds.
green kernels
🇫🇷 Les pepitas sont des graines de courge décortiquées.
🇩🇪 Pepitas sind geschälte Kürbiskerne.
🇮🇹 Le pepitas sono semi di zucca sgusciati.
🇵🇹 Pepitas são sementes de abóbora descascadas.
green kernels
Show translations
🇪🇸 Las pepitas son pipas de calabaza peladas.🇫🇷 Les pepitas sont des graines de courge décortiquées.
🇩🇪 Pepitas sind geschälte Kürbiskerne.
🇮🇹 Le pepitas sono semi di zucca sgusciati.
🇵🇹 Pepitas são sementes de abóbora descascadas.
🏆 Final Practice
English in the Real World:
Read the situation. Choose the more precise seed word.
Read the situation. Choose the more precise seed word.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%