"namkeen" means: In Indian English, namkeen refers to any salty, savory snack eaten between meals — the kind of crunchy, spiced nibbles served in small bowls.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.