kofta

Where does the word "kofta" come from? It comes from Persian kufta / kuftan, passing through Urdu/Hindi before entering English (1900s).

Kofta’s story begins in Persian: kufta / kuftan meant “ground or pounded meat.” From kuftan, "to grind or beat," describing pounded meat. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Urdu/Hindi as kofta. Adopted the dish and its name into Mughal-era South Asian cuisine. It reached English by 1900s as kofta. Entered English through South Asian and Middle Eastern cookery. Today, kofta means a dish of spiced ground meat or vegetables formed into balls and fried, baked, or simmered.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · medieval kufta / kuftan "ground or pounded meat", from kuftan, "to grind or beat," describing pounded meat.
2. Stage 2 · Urdu/Hindi · 1600s kofta "spiced meatball", adopted the dish and its name into Mughal-era South Asian cuisine.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1900s kofta "spiced meat or vegetable ball", entered English through South Asian and Middle Eastern cookery.