Panir

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of fresh cheese from India, often used in vegetarian dishes
2. A soft and crumbly dairy product made from curdled milk, commonly featured in South Asian cuisine
3. A versatile ingredient in cooking that can be fried, grilled, or added to various dishes, providing a rich source of protein

Etymology: The spelling "panir" is simply an alternative form of "paneer", the soft, unaged cheese of the Indian subcontinent. The word reached English from Hindustani, the lingua franca of northern India, where it appears as पनीर (panīr). Hindustani took it from Classical Persian, in which پَنِیر (panīr) meant cheese, so the word has travelled from Persian-speaking courts into Indian kitchens and then into English menus. The English pronunciation has drifted from its source. Some speakers say it as if it were a French loanword, /pæˈnɪə(r)/ or /pɑːˈnɪə(r)/, with the stress on the second syllable, a habit linguists call a pseudo-Gallicism. The French connection is an illusion: the word is Persian in origin, and the "-eer" ending was attached by English speakers who assumed a French source.

Synonyms: paneer, cottage cheese, curd cheese, fresh cheese, cheese