Meaning & use
idlis
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“idlis” is a form of “idli”.
Meaning
nounpluralIndian
Small, round, white cakes made from fermented rice and lentil batter, steamed until soft, eaten especially in southern India.
Grammar: The singular is 'idli'; use 'idlis' when counting or ordering more than one.
Patterns
- eat idlis
- make idlis
- steamed idlis
- a plate of idlis
For breakfast, we ordered three idlis with sambar and coconut chutney.
She steamed a fresh batch of idlis in the morning.
The restaurant serves idlis all day, not just at breakfast.
Word forms
| singular | idli |
|---|---|
| plural | idlis |
Common combinations
- steamed idlis
- Steamed idlis are light and easy to digest.
- a plate of idlis
- He finished a whole plate of idlis by himself.
- idlis with sambar
- In Chennai, idlis with sambar is a classic breakfast.
- make idlis
- My grandmother taught me how to make idlis from scratch.
- idli batter
- You need to ferment the idli batter overnight.
- soft idlis
- The secret to soft idlis is the right rice-to-lentil ratio.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rice cakes
- A general term for cakes made from rice; 'idlis' are specifically steamed and fermented, so 'rice cakes' is broader and less precise.
Word family
- idli noun
- The singular form, referring to one cake.
Commonly confused: idlis or dosa? idlis or vada?
idlis vs dosa
A dosa is a thin, crispy fermented crepe from the same batter, while an idli is thick and steamed.
idlis vs vada
A vada is a fried savory doughnut, often served with idlis, but it is not steamed.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'idlis' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The plural of 'idli' is 'idlis', so 'two idlis' is correct. 'Idli' without -s is singular, 'breakfasts' is unnecessary, and 'idli's' is not a standard plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “idlis”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.