Vegetable Names and Categories for Exams (With Scientific Names)
Welcome, super learners! Are you ready to explore the colourful and crunchy world of vegetables? Finding it tricky to tell your lauki from your lettuce—or to remember all those vegetable names for your next GK exam? You’ve come to the right place! Let’s make the “list of vegetables” your new favourite topic with facts, stories, tables, and easy explanations—just like a Vedantu teacher would explain in class.
What Counts as a Vegetable? (And Is Tomato Really One?)
The Meaning of ‘Vegetable’
A vegetable is any edible part of a plant that is not too sweet. This can be the root, stem, leaf, flower, seed, or even the fruit (yes, you read it right)! That’s why we get carrot (root), spinach (leaf), cauliflower (flower), potato (tuber), and—even though it’s a fruit in science—tomato in our veggie baskets.
Why Are Vegetables Important for Us?
- They give us vitamins, minerals, and fibre for good health.
- They keep our body strong and protect us from diseases.
- They add colour, crunch, and taste to our meals.
Types of Vegetables – The Many Groups in Your Plate!
Discover the Vegetable Families
Vegetables can be grouped by the plant part we eat. This helps you remember their names and pick the right ones for your exam or kitchen!
| Type/Class | Examples | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Leafy Vegetables | Spinach, lettuce, fenugreek | Leaf part, vitamin-rich |
| Root Vegetables | Carrot, radish, beetroot | Grow below the soil |
| Tuber Vegetables | Potato, yam, sweet potato | Swollen roots/stems |
| Flower Vegetables | Broccoli, cauliflower | Edible flower head |
| Fruit Vegetables | Brinjal, cucumber, tomato | Botanical fruit, used like veg |
| Stem Vegetables | Celery, asparagus | Edible stem part |
| Bulb Vegetables | Onion, garlic | Round, grow underground |
| Podded Vegetables | Peas, beans | Seeds inside pods |
A-Z List of Vegetables (with Pictures and Science Names!)
10 Must-Know Vegetables for Exams
| S. No | Vegetable Name | Hindi Name | Scientific Name | Type | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spinach | Palak | Spinacia oleracea | Leafy | 🥬 |
| 2 | Carrot | Gajar | Daucus carota | Root | 🥕 |
| 3 | Potato | Aloo | Solanum tuberosum | Tuber | 🥔 |
| 4 | Brinjal | Baingan | Solanum melongena | Fruit Veg | 🍆 |
| 5 | Tomato* | Tamatar | Solanum lycopersicum | Fruit Veg | 🍅 |
| 6 | Cabbage | Patta gobhi | Brassica oleracea | Leafy | 🥗 |
| 7 | Cauliflower | Phool gobhi | Brassica oleracea | Flower | |
| 8 | Green Beans | Sem/Beans | Phaseolus vulgaris | Podded | |
| 9 | Peas | Matar | Pisum sativum | Podded | |
| 10 | Radish | Mooli | Raphanus sativus | Root |
*Remember: Tomato is a fruit in science, but a vegetable in your kitchen!
Want a big A-Z list for fast revision? Download the 100+ Vegetables PDF made by Vedantu experts.
Which Vegetables Give Superpowers? Healthiest Choices Explained!
Top 10 Healthiest Veggies
| Rank | Vegetable | Why is it Healthy? | Key Nutrients |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spinach | Packed with iron, good for blood | Iron, vit K |
| 2 | Broccoli | Fights diseases | Vitamin C, fibre |
| 3 | Kale | Amazing for heart & eyes | Vitamins A, K |
| 4 | Carrot | Keeps eyes sharp | Beta carotene, A |
| 5 | Sweet Potato | Gives energy | Fibre, potassium |
| 6 | Bell Pepper | Boosts immunity | Vit C, A |
| 7 | Garlic | Natural germ killer! | Allicin, sulfur |
| 8 | Cauliflower | Light yet filling | Vit C, K |
| 9 | Green Peas | Plant protein | Protein, B vitamins |
| 10 | Beetroot | Great for stamina | Iron, folate |
Fruit or Vegetable? The Great Kitchen Debate!
Fruit vs Vegetable – Table for GK Champions
| Basis | Fruit | Vegetable |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical origin | From flower ovary | Various plant parts |
| Seeds inside? | Usually yes | Not always |
| Kitchen example | Tomato, brinjal | Spinach, potato |
Chunky Questions: Can You Solve These?
Real Exam Examples
- Q: Is brinjal (eggplant) a fruit or vegetable?
A: Brinjal is a fruit in science but a vegetable in our meals! - Q: Name any 5 green leafy vegetables.
A: Spinach, kale, amaranth, methi (fenugreek), lettuce.
How Vegetable GK Helps in Your Exams
Where You Will See These Questions!
| Exam | Section | Avg. Questions/Year | Difficulty | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC | Science | 1-2 | Medium | Which vegetable is a fruit? |
| CBSE 6-8 | Science GK | 3-4 | Easy | List any 5 root vegetables |
| Olympiads | GK | 2-5 | Medium | Match with scientific names |
| SSC/NTSE | GK/GS | 1-2 | Easy | What is a tuber? |
Quick Revision: Table of Fun Vegetable Facts
| Feature | What It Means | Fun to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Healthiest veg in India | Spinach/Kale | Top iron and vitamin source |
| Strangest shape | Bitter gourd | Bumpy and twisty! |
| Vegetable that grows fastest | Radish | In 25 days! |
| Most common in India | Potato | Loved in all curries! |
| Oddest vegetable fact | Onion makes you cry | But tastes yummy! |
Let’s Practice! (Test Yourself)
- Name 3 root vegetables found in Indian kitchens.
- Which part of the plant is eaten as cauliflower?
- Give two vegetables whose scientific names start with “Solanum”.
- Is a pea a seed or a fruit?
- Which vegetable is also known as “Capsicum”?
(Check your answers above or in the downloadable Vedantu resource PDF!)
Why Do People Love Vegetables? (And Common Mix-Ups!)
- They are found in every meal and every Indian festival!
- Mix-ups: People often confuse fruits and vegetables (like tomato or pumpkin), but exams might quiz you on these fun facts.
- Some vegetables even look like fruits and vice versa—no worries, Vedantu has your back!
Keep Learning – Download, Explore, and Practice More!
Download your full list of vegetables, scientific names, and tables for revision, or explore even more GK topics on Vedantu General Knowledge. For tasty knowledge, check out list of fruits too!
Revision Pointers
- Group vegetables by type: root, stem, leaf, fruit, flower, tuber.
- Remember scientific names for quick answers.
- Be ready for those tricky “fruit or vegetable?” questions in exams.
Good luck, GK master! Keep revising, keep tasting (and eating) healthy veggies, and you’ll always be one step ahead at school and in real life.
Want more? Download your vegetable PDF or explore Vegetable Names – Full List PDF and ace every quiz!
FAQs on Complete List of Vegetables (A-Z) with Names, Pictures & Facts
1. What are examples of vegetables?
Examples of vegetables include both commonly eaten and less familiar types found worldwide. Some key examples are:
- Spinach (Palak)
- Potato (Aloo)
- Carrot (Gajar)
- Cauliflower (Phool Gobhi)
- Tomato (Tamatar)
- Brinjal (Baingan)
- Cabbage (Patta Gobhi)
- Radish (Mooli)
- Beans
- Green peas (Matar)
2. What are the 20 vegetables?
Here is a list of 20 common vegetables useful for school exams and GK:
- Spinach
- Carrot
- Potato
- Brinjal
- Tomato
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Beans
- Peas
- Radish
- Onion
- Garlic
- Sweet Potato
- Broccoli
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Pumpkin
- Beetroot
- Cucumber
- Bell Pepper (Capsicum)
3. What is the healthiest vegetable?
Spinach is often considered the healthiest vegetable due to its rich content of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Other highly nutritious vegetables include:
- Broccoli: High in Vitamin C and fiber
- Kale: Packed with vitamins A, C, and K
- Carrot: Excellent source of beta carotene (vitamin A)
- Sweet Potato: High in fiber and potassium
4. What are green vegetables?
Green vegetables are plants with edible green leaves, stems, or pods, and are rich in vitamins, fiber, and minerals. Common examples include:
- Spinach
- Kale
- Fenugreek (Methi)
- Lettuce
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Green beans
5. Is brinjal a fruit or vegetable?
Brinjal (also called eggplant or baingan) is botanically a fruit because it develops from the flower and contains seeds. However, in culinary and general knowledge exams, it is commonly classified as a vegetable. Always note this difference for competitive and syllabus-based MCQs.
6. What are root vegetables? Give examples.
Root vegetables are vegetables that grow underground and store nutrients in their roots. Important examples include:
- Carrot (Gajar)
- Radish (Mooli)
- Beetroot (Chukandar)
- Turnip (Shalgam)
7. What is the scientific name of tomato?
The scientific name of tomato is Solanum lycopersicum. Knowing scientific names is important for Olympiad, NTSE, and CBSE biology and general knowledge questions. Example:
- Tomato – Solanum lycopersicum
8. List 5 green leafy vegetables for GK exams.
Green leafy vegetables are regularly asked in school and competitive exams. Five key examples are:
- Spinach (Palak)
- Kale
- Amaranth (Chaulai)
- Fenugreek (Methi)
- Lettuce
9. What is the difference between a fruit and a vegetable?
The main difference between a fruit and a vegetable is:
- Fruit: Develops from the ovary of a flower, usually contains seeds (e.g., tomato, brinjal, cucumber)
- Vegetable: Edible parts of plants such as roots, leaves, stems, or flowers (e.g., carrot, spinach, potato)
10. Name some vegetables found in India.
Common Indian vegetables include everyday ingredients used in kitchens and asked in exams:
- Potato (Aloo)
- Tomato (Tamatar)
- Brinjal (Baingan)
- Cauliflower (Phool gobhi)
- Bottle gourd (Lauki)
- Ladyfinger (Bhindi)
- Radish (Mooli)
- Spinach (Palak)
11. What is a tuber vegetable? Give two examples.
Tuber vegetables are starchy, swollen, underground plant parts that store nutrients. Two key examples are:
- Potato (Solanum tuberosum)
- Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas)
