Food is a universal language, but the words we use to describe it can have fascinating journeys across cultures and time. Here’s a glimpse into the etymological delights of 10 everyday food terms:
Ketchup
This tangy condiment might surprise you. Ketchup likely comes from the Chinese word “koechiap,” meaning “brine of fish.” Early ketchup was more general spiced sauces, sometimes even including fish! Another theory suggests the word ketchup entered English from the Malay word “kicap” sometimes spelled kecap or ketjap. “Kicap” originally meant “soy sauce” and has Chinese roots. In Indonesian cuisine, similar to Malay, “kecap” refers to fermented savory sauces, with variations like “kecap manis” (sweet soy sauce).
Sandwich
The word “sandwich” comes from the 18th century and is named after John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich. There’s a popular story that Lord Sandwich was a notorious gambler who didn’t want to stop playing cards for a proper meal. So, he’d have his valet bring him slices of meat between two pieces of bread, allowing him to eat without interrupting his gambling. Allegedly, his friends started ordering “the same as Sandwich,” and the name stuck.
French Fries
The crispy potato strips we know as french fries likely originated in Belgium, not France. There’s a story that Belgians fried small fish in winter, and when the rivers froze, they substituted potatoes – but this is just one theory. The word “french” in “french fries” probably doesn’t refer to the origin. Back in the early 1900s, “French fried” was used more generally to describe something deep-fried, like “French fried onions.”
Biscuit
The word biscuit comes from the Old French word “bescuit,” which literally means “twice-cooked.” This, in turn, stems from the Medieval Latin term “biscoctus,” which combines “bis” (twice) and “coctus” (cooked). The Romans had a type of biscuit, similar to a modern rusk, which was essentially bread that was baked again to make it crispy. This double-baking process is what the word itself captures.
Pizza
The most common theory traces pizza back to the Latin word “pinsa,” which refers to a flatbread. This connection makes sense considering the base of a pizza. Over time, the word likely evolved into the various regional terms for flatbreads in Italy, eventually settling on “pizza.” Another theory suggests a link to the Byzantine Greek term “pitta,” also meaning “pie” or “cake.” This influence is especially plausible in southern Italy, which had historical ties to the Byzantine Empire. Pizza shares similarities with these flatbread-style pies, potentially influencing the name.
Taco
The Spanish word “taco” literally translates to “plug” or “wedge.” This makes sense if you think about how a filling is “plugged” or wedged inside a tortilla. This theory suggests the Spanish adapted the word to describe the food based on its resemblance to a plug. Several possibilities emerge from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, and other central Mexican cultures. Let’s explore two. First is the “Tlahco” theory. This Nahuatl word means “half” or “in the middle.” This could connect to how fillings are placed in the center of a tortilla. Imagine a folded tortilla as a whole, and the filling occupies “half” or the “middle” portion. Then, there is the “Tlaxcalli” connection. This Nahuatl word refers to a type of corn tortilla. If “taco” stemmed from “tlaxcalli,” it would directly link the word to the food itself. Perhaps “taco” was a shortened or slang term derived from the traditional tortilla name.
Chocolate
The most widely accepted theory traces chocolate back to the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs. The word “chocolatl” is often cited, with “xocol” meaning “bitter” and “atl” meaning “water,” reflecting the Aztec chocolate beverage. However, there’s a catch. There’s no evidence of “xocolatl” in early Nahuatl sources. Scholars believe the word might have been created later, possibly to avoid confusion with the vulgar Spanish word “caca.”
Curry
This flavorful dish boasts South Asian roots. The word “curry” likely comes from the Tamil or Kannada languages of southern India, where spiced stews were prevalent. The key player is the Tamil word “kaṟi” which means “sauce” or “relish for rice” often containing leaves from the curry tree. This term is also used in other Dravidian languages like Malayalam and Kannada with a similar meaning. So, “curry” ultimately traces back to the South Indian term “kaṟi” but arrived in English through European traders and with some linguistic detours along the way.
Sushi
Sushi’s etymology reveals a focus on the core element, the rice, rather than the fish we often associate with it. The word “sushi” comes from the Japanese term “sushi,” which translates to “sour rice.” This meaning reflects the historical preservation method used for sushi, where fish was packed in fermented rice. While we often associate sushi with raw fish (sashimi is the actual term for that), the original focus was on the vinegared rice, the foundation of the dish. This etymology reflects the historical preservation technique of fermenting fish with rice, where the rice itself wasn’t always consumed. Over time, the process evolved into the sushi we know today, where the rice is a delicious and integral part of the experience.
Coffee
This global morning pick-me-up has an interesting path. The word “coffee” comes from the Arabic word “qahwah,” which eventually traveled through various languages to reach our modern term. Some Arab scholars believed “qahwah” was linked to a word meaning “wine” due to the coffee’s dark color and possibly how it was served hot. Another theory suggests it stems from the name of the “Kaffa” region in Ethiopia, where coffee plants are native. The word for coffee in the Kaffa region is “buno,” which itself was borrowed into Arabic as “bunn” for raw coffee beans.
So next time you savor your favorite dish, take a moment to appreciate the word’s journey that brought it to your plate. It’s a reminder that food connects us not just to our taste buds, but also to the rich tapestry of human history and cultural exchange. The etymology of food reveals a delicious blend of history, culture, and language!
