tzatziki

Where does the word "tzatziki" come from? It comes from Ottoman Turkish cacik, passing through Greek before entering English (1950s).

Tzatziki’s story begins in Ottoman Turkish: cacik meant “a yogurt and cucumber dish.” A cold yogurt and cucumber dish, common across the eastern Mediterranean. By 1900s, the word had taken hold in Greek as tzatziki. From Turkish 'cacık'. It reached English by 1950s as tzatziki. Today, tzatziki means a Greek condiment made from yogurt, cucumber, and garlic.

1. Stage 1 · Ottoman Turkish · medieval cacik "a yogurt and cucumber dish", a cold yogurt and cucumber dish, common across the eastern Mediterranean.
2. Stage 2 · Greek · 1900s tzatziki "a cold yogurt and cucumber condiment", from Turkish 'cacık'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1950s tzatziki "a Greek yogurt and cucumber condiment", .