gumbo

Where does the word "gumbo" come from? It comes from Bantu (Umbundu) ki-ngombo, passing through Louisiana French/Creole before entering English (1800s).

Gumbo’s story begins in Bantu (Umbundu): ki-ngombo meant “okra.” The word for okra, the vegetable central to the dish. By 1700s-1800s, the word had taken hold in Louisiana French/Creole as gombo. Carried by enslaved Africans to Louisiana and adapted into a stew. It reached English by 1800s as gumbo. Settled as the English name for the Louisiana Creole dish. Today, gumbo means a thick stew from Louisiana, typically made with okra, meat, or seafood.

1. Stage 1 · Bantu (Umbundu) · medieval ki-ngombo "okra", the word for okra, the vegetable central to the dish.
2. Stage 2 · Louisiana French/Creole · 1700s-1800s gombo "an okra-based stew", carried by enslaved Africans to Louisiana and adapted into a stew.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s gumbo "a thick stew of the American South", settled as the English name for the Louisiana Creole dish.