Edamames

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of young soybean harvested before full ripeness and often served as a snack or appetizer, commonly found in Japanese cuisine
2. Immature green soybeans that are typically boiled or steamed in their pods and seasoned before eating, popular in various Asian dishes
3. Young soybeans that are typically enjoyed salted and served in their pods, known for their nutritional benefits and culinary versatility

Etymology: "Edamames" is simply the plural of "edamame," so the real story belongs to the singular. The word was borrowed from Japanese, where 枝豆 (edamame) is built from 枝 (eda), meaning "branch" or "stem," and 豆 (mame), meaning "bean." Together they literally mean "stem beans," a name that refers to how the pods were traditionally sold and eaten: harvested while still young and green, often still attached to the plant's stem or branch, and boiled or steamed in their pods. The name describes a method of eating as much as the bean itself. Because the soybeans are picked before they harden and turn yellow, they are soft, sweet, and tender enough to be popped straight from the pod, which is why the Japanese term highlights the stem rather than the mature bean. English speakers adopted the Japanese word largely unchanged, and the plural follows the usual English pattern of adding "s."