This is, I think, the Hindi word for 'potato'.

Is it stressed, in Hindi, on the final syllable?

Phil

It is pronounced slightly differently in defferent regions of India, even in Hindi. This is true of many Hindi words. In Northern India, the home of correct Hindi, you would pronounce it as aalu.

Thanks, Mamta. Do you mean that the 'aa' is stressed?

Phil

Yes, slightly. It is not like a in apple, it is like a in ark.

Thanks, Mamta. It wasn't so much what kind of 'a' it was, but which of the two syllables is stressed. Thanks, however, for that info.

I'm trying to figure out why so many loanwords into English which are spelled with 'oo' at the end of the word have stress on that syllable.

Examples are:

kangaroo

Waterloo (that's easy: it's stressed on the final syllable in French)

vindaloo

taboo

shampoo

If these were all stressed on the final syllable in the language of origin, that would explain it, but you seem to be saying that 'aloo' is stressed on the first syllable, not the 'oo' syllable.

Anyway, I've just done paneer from your recipe, and will add it to your sag aloo recipe, which I'm taking to a friend's place as a starter for a dinner party tonight. We have a veggie as a dinner party guest, so all the food will be veggie. I'll see what my English friend does for the main course.

Another English friend did a pasta dish with monkfish for lunch the other day, with 'baies roses', those pink peppercorns, which are fab.

Back to kitchen duty now!

Phil

"If these were all stressed on the final syllable in the language of origin, that would explain it, but you seem to be saying that 'aloo' is stressed on the first syllable, not the 'oo' syllable."

In Alu or Aaloo or Aalu, there is almost same emphasis on both syllables. It is difficult to specify, because pronunciations vary so much from state to state in India, because languages vary. Alu is Hindi, just one of India's many languages, although it is the National language. This is one of the reasons why menus in Indian restaurants have such different/varying names for the same dish, depending upon where the owner comes from.

It is good of you to convert your whole menu to a vegetarian meal for one friend. I am happy as long as there is one dish that I can eat, and don't expect people to change their menus for me (I am a pescatarian now, no meat/poultry for me any more).

Hope your party was great :)