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Essential Fish Names in Multiple Languages
Getting Fish Names is difficult as all fishes look similar. Local shops also confuse us a lot with the type of fish. For example, in Tamilnadu fish shops, the seller used to say all fishes as Paara(Trevally fish), but it is not the same. Also, buying is difficult if we don’t know fish names exactly. I traveled to the USA for a few years, I saw the fish names in Tamil, but I didn’t know them in English, so I faced difficulty in buying fish. Then I started listing and updating the below for my reference. It would be useful for you folks also.
Let me know if I need to update the fish names in your language in the comment section, so I can try to update them. It will be useful for others.
1. Anchovy
Languages
Fish Names
Tamil
Nethili, Nethali, Nethail, Thogai Meen
English
Anchovies, Anchovy
Malayalam
Nethili, Kozhuva, Natholi, Netha, Nathal
Kannada
Bolingei, Kollathuru, Manangu
Telugu
Nethallu, Pooroava, Kelba, Poravallu
Bengali
Ruli Purusa
Hindi
Kati
Konkani
Gujarathi
Pelli
Oriya
Chauli
Malaysia
Bak kang, Bilis Bunga air, Pusu, Teri
Arabic
Barriya, Zaam
Pakistan
Phyasa, Padni
Philippines
Dilis, silag, Alipatang, Bolinao, Munamom
Srilanka
Halmassa, Handalla
Tagalog
2. Barramundi
Barramundi/ Bekti are known as Asian seabass, one of the most popular fish in Australia.
4. Basa / Pangas / Vietnamese Catfish / Cream Dory
Basa (Pangasius bocourti) belongs to the catfish family. In the UK it’s known as Vietnamese river cobbler, basa, pangasius, panga. In North America and Australia, it’s known as basa fish, swai, bocourti. Other names are Yellowtail catfish
Languages
Fish Names
Tamil
Keluthi meen, Aie, Coola kelettee, broiler meen
English
Vietnamese Catfish
Malayalam
Koori vaala, Indian Valah, Pangusis, Assam vala, Muzhu meen,Malaysian Vaala
Kannada
Telugu
pungus, Choluvajella, Pangas, Banka jella
Bengali
Hindi
Konkani
Gujarathi
Marathi
Sheelan
Oriya
Malaysia
Arabic
Cream Dory, Sweet Doris, Shark catfish
Pakistan
Philippines
Srilanka
Tagalog
5. Bluefin Trevally
Languages
Fish Names
Tamil
Paarai
English
Bluefin Travelly
Malayalam
Vatta Kaluvel, Oyupara Maduthala
Kannada
Telugu
Kuroogoo – Parah
Bengali
Hindi
Konkani
Gujarathi
Marathi
Shitap
Oriya
Malaysia
Arabic
Pakistan
Philippines
Srilanka
Tagalog
6. Bombay Duck
This is also referred as Lizard fish.
Languages
Fish Names
Tamil
Vangaravasi
English
Bombay Duck
Malayalam
Bummuli, Bomblaya
Kannada
Banguli
Telugu
Vanamattalu, Coco muttah, Cucah Sawahri
Bengali
Loitta, Lutia, Bumaloh
Hindi
Konkani
Gujarathi
Bumla, Gulchi
Marathi
Bombil, Nehare, Bunmalo
Oriya
Bombalo, Naluna, Banamotta, Bombil
Malaysia
Arabic
Pakistan
Bombil, Bombala
Philippines
Srilanka
Tagalog
7. Butter Fish
Butterfish is a market name for several different types of fish. It is due to the oily or butter content in these fishes. Many fishes are referred to as butterfish like Cobia, Trevally, Scat, Pompano, Dart, Amberjacks, and Seer fish.
In Kerala Seerfish, Cobia, and Punnarameen / Poonara meen(Greater amberjack) are confused as butterfish. In Tamilnadu, the Snakeheads are sometimes referred to as butterfish
Spotted Scat is also called Butterfish Escolar is often sold under various names like “butterfish“, “Hawaiian walu“, “Snale Mackerel” or “super white tuna“. Butterfish is also known as Chinese pomfret, white pomfret fish, or pompano American butterfish are also known as dollarfish, shiner, skipjack, sheepshead, or harvestfish. Black cod or sablefish is also sometimes confused with butterfish in some places