Fennel Seeds in Arabic: شمر (Shamar)

Fennel Seeds in Arabic: Quick Reference

Use this table when you just need the word. The pronunciation column is an approximation for English speakers; the capital letters show the stressed syllable and ʿ is the Arabic ʿayn, a throaty sound.

Sources for the Arabic terms: FAO’s AGROVOC thesaurus lists بذور الشمر as the Arabic term for fennel seeds, and the USDA GRIN database records shamar for fennel.

Fennel Seeds in Arabic by Region and Dialect

Arabic has one dominant word for fennel and a few regional alternatives. Most people in Cairo, Riyadh, Dubai, Baghdad or Beirut will understand shamar, so start there and switch only if you are in North Africa.

Looking for the plant beyond the seeds? Our fennel bulb plant guide covers the vegetable, and how to grow fennel explains the whole plant.

How to Pronounce Shamar (شمر)

Shamar has three letters: ش (shīn, the “sh” in “sheep”), م (mīm, “m”) and ر (rāʾ, a tapped or rolled “r”). The usual pronunciation is SHAH-mar, with the stress on the first syllable and an open “a” as in “father”.

Common English spellings

Because Arabic vowels are not written in everyday text, the same word is romanised several ways. People search for shamar, shammar, shamaar, shumar, shomar and shoumar seeds, and they all point to the same plant. Shammar is also a well-known Arabian tribal name, so check the context when you see it.

Saunf (سونف): Urdu, Hindi and the Arabic Equivalent

Saunf in Arabic is shamar. In Urdu and Hindi, fennel seeds are saunf (سونف in Urdu script, सौंफ in Devanagari). It is the same seed, Foeniculum vulgare, with the same flavour and nutrition. Only the language changes. If you know the Urdu name, you can also find the English meaning of saunf: it is fennel seeds.

Moti saunf and Lucknowi saunf

South Asian shops sell fennel in two common grades. Moti saunf (“fat” saunf) is the thicker seed used mainly for cooking and pickling. Patli or Lucknowi saunf is the small, thin, sweeter seed served as mukhwas, the after-meal mouth freshener. Some cooks also call anise “saunf”, so check the label if the recipe matters. Our fennel seeds uses guide covers how each is used, and the hub explains taste and how to use fennel seeds.

Neighbouring languages

Arabic readers often meet the Persian name rāzīāna (رازیانه) and the Turkish rezene. The Arabic classical word rāziyānaj comes from the Persian one. For names in European and other South Asian languages, see what fennel seeds are called around the world.

Shamar vs Yansoon: Fennel vs Anise in Arabic

Arabic speakers rarely mix up shamar and yansoon in the kitchen, but English speakers often do. Both taste of liquorice because they share the compound anethole, yet they are different plants.

Do not use them interchangeably in traditional remedies. For substitution and a side-by-side with cumin and caraway, see the fennel vs similar spices table on the hub, or our fennel vs cumin and fenugreek vs fennel guides.

What Shamar Is Traditionally Used For

Fennel has a long record in Arab, Persian and Greek medicine, and a few uses have modern research behind them. The cards below summarise the Arab-world traditions and show how strong the evidence is. For the wider picture, see the health benefits of fennel seeds at a glance and the fennel seeds nutrition guide.

Digestion after meals

A cup of shay al-shamar or a pinch of seeds after a heavy meal is the most common Arab use. Anethole relaxes gut muscle in laboratory work, and the tradition is old and widespread.

Traditional use; few human trials

Period pain

A 2021 meta-analysis of randomised trials (Shahrahmani et al., Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine) found fennel eased period pain versus placebo, with an effect not significantly different from mefenamic acid. The trials were small and mostly used extracts or capsules, not tea.

Small human trials

Breath freshening

Chewing raw or lightly roasted seeds after eating is a habit shared by Arab and South Asian households. The aromatic oils mask odour and encourage saliva flow.

Traditional use

Babies and young children: take care

Fennel water for colic is a familiar tradition, but the European Medicines Agency does not recommend fennel infusions for children under 4 because of limited data, and Swissmedic advises using them only after talking to a health professional. Ask your paediatrician first.

Official caution

Antioxidant compounds

Fennel seeds contain phenolic compounds such as quercetin and rosmarinic acid that neutralise free radicals in laboratory tests. That does not prove a health effect from a teaspoon of seeds.

Laboratory evidence

A calming evening drink

Because it is caffeine-free and warming, shay al-shamar is a popular wind-down drink, including after iftar in Ramadan. Any effect on sleep rests on tradition, with little human research.

Traditional use

Shay al-Shamar (شاي الشمر): Arabic Fennel Tea

Shay al-shamar is simply fennel seeds steeped in hot water. It is the first thing many Arab households reach for after a big meal, which is why fennel tea in Arabic is such a common search.

Classic Arabic shamar tea

Time: about 15 minutesMakes: 1 cup

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon (about 2 g) fennel seeds
• 200 to 250 ml freshly boiled water
• Honey, optional

Method

1. Lightly crush the seeds in a mortar or between your palms to release the oils.
2. Pour the boiling water over them and cover the cup straight away.
3. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes, strain, and add honey if you like.

For ordinary drinking, one to three cups a day is typical. The EU herbal monograph’s traditional-use dose for adults is about 1.5 g of seed per 250 ml cup, up to three times daily, for no more than two weeks without advice. Skip the tea for babies, in pregnancy and while breastfeeding unless your doctor agrees.

Saunf qahwa (Pakistani style)

A stronger brew: simmer about a tablespoon of crushed saunf with a slice of ginger for four to five minutes, strain, and sweeten with honey.

Shamar cold brew

For summer and iftar tables: leave a tablespoon of seeds with lemon zest and mint in 500 ml of cold water in the fridge overnight, then strain.

More brewing methods, spices and timings are in our full fennel tea recipe. If you like warming blends, try pairing it with cardamom tea.

Shamar in Arab Cooking

Fennel is an old ingredient in Arab kitchens: medieval cookbooks include pickled fennel stems and fennel served with yoghurt, and the seeds flavour breads, biscuits and spice mixes today. These cards show typical ways cooks use it across the region, not fixed recipes. For techniques and quantities, see fennel seeds uses.

Egypt: seeds with fishسمك بالشمر

Crushed fennel seeds pair naturally with fish, alongside cumin, garlic and lemon, as a marinade before grilling or baking.

Gulf: rice and spice blendsأرز بالبهارات

Whole seeds can be fried briefly in ghee or oil at the start of a rice dish, so their sweetness perfumes the grains alongside cardamom and cloves.

Levant: fennel saladسلطة الشمر

Thinly sliced raw bulb works with orange, mint, olive oil and lemon, finished with a few toasted seeds. See the fennel bulb guide.

Morocco: besbas in taginesطاجين بالبسباس

Ground fennel seed rounds out North African spice mixes and slow-cooked meat, balancing rich fat with gentle sweetness.

Is Shamar Safe? What Health Authorities Say

In food amounts fennel seeds are safe for most people. Regulators are more cautious about concentrated fennel preparations and about particular groups, mainly because fennel contains a natural compound called estragole.

Sources: EMA EU herbal monograph, sweet fennel fruit · Swissmedic: fennel tea for pregnant women, infants and children under 4 · Egyptian Drug Authority fennel monograph · Shahrahmani et al. 2021, dysmenorrhoea meta-analysis. Read our fennel seeds side effects guide for the full precautions. This page is general information, not medical advice.

Dialect Finder: Which Word Should I Use?

Pick a country to see the word locals expect for fennel seeds. Shamar is understood almost everywhere, so treat this as a shortcut rather than a rule.

Fennel Seeds in Arabic: Frequently Asked Questions

Names and dialects

Explore More Fennel Guides

This page sits inside the fennel silo. Start with the fennel seeds hub for the big picture, then go deeper on one topic.