Etymology Map
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Tabbouleh

3 stages from Arabic to English.

Today it means a Levantine salad of bulgur wheat, chopped parsley, tomatoes, mint, and lemon juice

Where does the word "tabbouleh" come from? It comes from Arabic tabil, passing through Levantine Arabic before entering English (1939).

1
Stage 1 of 3
tabil
Arabic · medieval
"seasoning"
meant "seasoning" or "spice"
2
Stage 2 of 3
tabbulah
Levantine Arabic · medieval
"seasoned salad"
named the seasoned salad now eaten across the Levant
3
Stage 3 of 3
tabbouleh
English · 1939
"parsley and bulgur salad"
entered English through Levantine cuisine
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