curry

Where does the word "curry" come from? It comes from Tamil kari, passing through Portuguese before entering English (1600s).

Curry’s story begins in Tamil: kari meant “sauce, relish.” A Tamil (and broader South Indian) word for a sauce or relish served with rice. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Portuguese as caril. Adapted from South Indian kari by Portuguese traders in India. It reached English by 1600s as curry. Hannah Glasse's 1747 cookbook gave the first English curry recipe. Today, curry means a dish or sauce seasoned with a blend of spices, associated with South Asian cuisine.

1. Stage 1 · Tamil · ancient kari "sauce, relish", a Tamil (and broader South Indian) word for a sauce or relish served with rice.
2. Stage 2 · Portuguese · 1500s caril "a spiced sauce", adapted from South Indian kari by Portuguese traders in India.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s curry "a spiced dish or sauce", Hannah Glasse's 1747 cookbook gave the first English curry recipe.