Etymology Map
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Lahmacun

3 stages from Arabic to English.

Today it means a thin, crisp flatbread topped with spiced minced meat

Where does the word "lahmacun" come from? It comes from Arabic laḥm bi-ʿajīn, passing through Turkish before entering English (2000s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
laḥm bi-ʿajīn
Arabic · medieval
"meat flatbread"
'meat with dough', a Levantine flatbread still baked in Aleppo
2
Stage 2 of 3
lahmacun
Turkish · 1900s
"spiced meat flatbread"
the cities of Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa both claim the best version
3
Stage 3 of 3
lahmacun
English · 2000s
"meat-topped flatbread"
often called 'Turkish pizza' in English-speaking kebab shops
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Read the full story

Lahmacun’s story begins in Arabic: laḥm bi-ʿajīn meant “meat flatbread.” 'meat with dough', a Levantine flatbread still baked in Aleppo. By 1900s, the word had taken hold in Turkish as lahmacun. The cities of Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa both claim the best version. It reached English by 2000s as lahmacun. Often called 'Turkish pizza' in English-speaking kebab shops. Today, lahmacun means a thin, crisp flatbread topped with spiced minced meat.