Tzatziki

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /tsæˈtsi.ki/

Definitions

1. A culinary sauce originating from Greece, consisting of yogurt, garlic, cucumbers, and herbs typically served as a dip or condiment
2. This mixture traditionally combines yogurt and finely chopped cucumber with garlic, often including vinegar or lemon juice for flavor
3. A refreshing dip commonly made from strained yogurt, cucumbers, and seasoning, usually enjoyed with grilled meats or pita bread

Etymology: Tzatziki is a Greek word, but its roots run through Turkish. The Greek "tzatzíki" was borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish "cacık," the name of a cold dish of yogurt, cucumber and garlic. Turkish speakers used the word for a dish of this kind long before it reached Greek menus, and the Greek form kept the same sense. The two words are doublets, meaning that English-speaking readers meet the same Turkish root in two shapes: "tzatziki" in its Greek spelling and "cacık" (often written "cacik") in its Turkish one. Both point back to one dish, so the Greek name is a loan rather than a separate coinage.

Synonyms: cucumber sauce, yogurt dip