matzo

Where does the word "matzo" come from? It comes from Hebrew matzah, passing through Yiddish before entering English (1800s-1900s).

Matzo’s story begins in Hebrew: matzah meant “unleavened bread.” Unleavened bread eaten during Passover. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Yiddish as matse. Kept as the everyday word for the flatbread. It reached English by 1800s-1900s as matzo. Eaten at Passover to recall the Israelites' hurried flight from Egypt. Today, matzo means a flat, unleavened bread traditionally eaten during Passover.

1. Stage 1 · Hebrew · ancient matzah "unleavened bread", unleavened bread eaten during Passover.
2. Stage 2 · Yiddish · medieval matse "unleavened flatbread", kept as the everyday word for the flatbread.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s-1900s matzo "a flat, unleavened bread", eaten at Passover to recall the Israelites' hurried flight from Egypt.