Etymology Map
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Boza

3 stages from Ottoman Turkish to English.

Today it means a thick, lightly fermented drink made from millet or other grain

Where does the word "boza" come from? It comes from Ottoman Turkish boza, passing through Bulgarian before entering English (2000s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
boza
Ottoman Turkish · medieval
"fermented grain drink"
sold on winter nights by street vendors crying 'boo-zaa!' through Istanbul's streets
2
Stage 2 of 3
boza
Bulgarian · 1800s
"fermented grain drink"
a traditional Bulgarian breakfast pairs boza with 'banitsa' pastry
3
Stage 3 of 3
boza
English · 2000s
"fermented millet drink"
Orhan Pamuk's novel 'A Strangeness in My Mind' (2014), about an Istanbul boza seller, introduced many English readers to it
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Read the full story

Boza’s story begins in Ottoman Turkish: boza meant “fermented grain drink.” Sold on winter nights by street vendors crying 'boo-zaa!' through Istanbul's streets. By 1800s, the word had taken hold in Bulgarian as boza. A traditional Bulgarian breakfast pairs boza with 'banitsa' pastry. It reached English by 2000s as boza. Orhan Pamuk's novel 'A Strangeness in My Mind' (2014), about an Istanbul boza seller, introduced many English readers to it. Today, boza means a thick, lightly fermented drink made from millet or other grain.