Etymology Map
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Lo mein

2 stages from Cantonese to English.

Today it means a Chinese dish of soft wheat noodles tossed with sauce, vegetables, and meat

Where does the word "lo mein" come from? It comes from Cantonese lo mihn, adopted directly into English (mid-1900s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
lo mihn
Cantonese · 19th century
"noodles tossed with sauce and toppings"
literally 'stirred noodles', a dish of noodles tossed rather than fried in sauce
2
Stage 2 of 2
lo mein
English · mid-1900s
"a Chinese-American dish of soft noodles tossed with sauce"
borrowed into American English through Chinese-American restaurant menus
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