Fitkari (phitkari) in English: meaning, spellings and names across India
By the Vura teamShare
Short answer: fitkari in English is alum. More exactly, it is potassium alum, also called potash alum. On a cosmetic ingredient list it is written as Potassium Alum.
What fitkari is
Fitkari (फिटकरी) is the clear, crystal-like mineral salt that many of us grew up seeing next to the bathroom sink. It was used after a shave, on small cuts, and to settle dirt in a bucket of water.
It is a mineral salt. It occurs in nature, and most of what is sold today is refined from mineral sources into clean blocks and powder.
How do you spell it?
There is no single correct English spelling, because it is a Hindi word written in English letters. You will see all of these:
- fitkari (by far the most searched in India)
- phitkari
- phitkiri and fitkiri
- phatkari and phatkadi
- fatkari
The "ph" in phitkari is how dictionaries write the Hindi sound फ. Most people type it the way it sounds, with an "f", which is why fitkari is the spelling you will see most often. If you searched for "fitkari spelling", both fitkari and phitkari are fine.
What fitkari is called in other languages
| Language | Name | In its own script |
|---|---|---|
| Hindi | Fitkari (phitkari) | फिटकरी |
| Urdu | Fitkari (phitkari) | پھٹکری |
| Bengali | Phitkiri | ফিটকিরি |
| Marathi | Turti | तुरटी |
| Gujarati | Phatkadi | ફટકડી |
| Tamil | Padikaram | படிகாரம் |
| Telugu | Patika | పటిక |
| Malayalam | Padikkaram | പടിക്കാരം |
| English | Alum, potassium alum, potash alum |
Local names vary from region to region. If your family calls it something else, write to us. We would like to know.
The chemical name and formula
The chemical name for fitkari is potassium aluminium sulphate. The crystal you buy also holds water inside it, so its full name is potassium aluminium sulphate dodecahydrate.
Its formula is KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O. In plain words, that is:
- one potassium atom (K)
- one aluminium atom (Al)
- two sulphate groups (SO₄)
- twelve water molecules (12H₂O) held inside the crystal
Is fitkari the same as alum?
Mostly, yes. "Alum" is the name for a small family of similar salts. The fitkari sold in India is usually potassium alum. Another one, ammonium alum, is used in some crystal deodorants.
One thing people often confuse: potassium alum is not potassium sulphate. We explain the difference in potassium sulphate or potassium alum.
What fitkari is used for
People use fitkari to:
- control underarm odour
- calm the skin after shaving
- help stop bleeding from small shaving nicks
- settle dirt in muddy water
We list everyday uses, and the claims you can ignore, in fitkari benefits.
Quick answers
What is fitkari called in English?
Alum. More exactly, potassium alum or potash alum.
Is it spelt fitkari or phitkari?
Both are correct. They are two ways of writing the same Hindi word in English letters.
What is fitkari in Tamil?
Padikaram (படிகாரம்).
What is fitkari in Marathi?
Turti (तुरटी).
Is fitkari a chemical?
Everything is a chemical, water included. Fitkari is a mineral salt that has been used on skin for generations.
We built our underarm spray around fitkari. On our label you will find it under its English name, Potassium Alum, along with every other ingredient in the bottle.