jalebi

Where does the word "jalebi" come from? It comes from Arabic zalābiya, passing through Persian and Hindi before entering English (1900s).

Jalebi’s story begins in Arabic: zalābiya meant “fried sweet.” Described in al-Baghdadi's cookbook of 1226. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Persian as zulbiya. A fritter soaked in syrup, still made for Ramadan in Iran. From there it passed into Hindi as jalebī by 1400s. Spread through India with Persian cooking. It reached English by 1900s as jalebi. Borrowed with Indian sweets. Today, jalebi means a South Asian sweet of fried batter spirals soaked in syrup.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval zalābiya "fried sweet", described in al-Baghdadi's cookbook of 1226.
2. Stage 2 · Persian · medieval zulbiya "syrup fritter", a fritter soaked in syrup, still made for Ramadan in Iran.
3. Stage 3 · Hindi · 1400s jalebī "syrup spiral", spread through India with Persian cooking.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1900s jalebi "syrup-soaked spiral", borrowed with Indian sweets.