7.5:  Words on the Menu- Loanwords and Traditional Arab Foods

Learning Objectives

In this section, you will be able to:

• Identify commonly used borrowed (loan) words in Arabic related to food and meals, and recognize their meanings and linguistic origins.
• Explore the cultural significance of well-known Arab dishes and explain their regional associations.

Borrowed Words of Food and Meals

Languages constantly evolve and interact with one another, especially when cultures come into contact through travel, trade, media, or technology. In the Arab world, the vocabulary of food and meals is a rich example of this linguistic exchange. Many modern food-related terms used in daily life today have been borrowed from other languages, particularly English, French, and Italian. These borrowed words, or loanwords, are commonly found on restaurant menus, food packaging, and in everyday conversations, especially when referring to international dishes and modern culinary tools.

For example, words like “بيتزا” (pizza), “ساندويش” (sandwich), “مايونيز” (mayonnaise), and “شوكولاتة” (chocolate) are used by Arabic speakers across regions. While these words are not originally Arabic, they have become fully integrated into the language, often adapted in pronunciation and spelling to match Arabic phonology.

In this section, you will explore some of the most common borrowed words related to food and meals, learn their meanings and origins, and practice using them in context. This will help you expand your vocabulary and gain a deeper understanding of how Arabic connects with global cultures through food.

Borrowed Words Related to Food and Meals

The Word in Sentence	Origin	Meaning	Arabic
أُضعُ صوص الطَّماطم مع المعكرونة	French	sauce	صوص
الأولاد يُحِبُّون الكاتشاب مع البَطَاطا المقلية	English	ketchup	كاتشاب
لا أُفَضِّل المايونيز في الساندويش	French	mayonnaise	مايونيز
أَكَلْتُ ساندويش دَجَاج في وجبة الغداء	English	sandwich	ساندويش
نَطْلُب بيتزا كل جُمُعَة في البيت	Italian	pizza	بيتزا
أَخِي يُفَضِّل البرجر أكثر من البيتزا	English	burger	برجر
طَبَخَت أُمِّي باستا بالخُضَار والسمك	Italian	pasta	باستا
نُحِبّ أنْ نأكل المعكرونة مع صوص الطماطم والجبن	Italian	Past	معكرونة
وضعتُ الكب كيك في البراد في المطبخ	English	cupcake	كب كيك
هذا المقهى يُقدِّم الشوكولاته الساخنة في الشِّتاء	French/Spanish	chocolate	شوكولاتة
طَلَبْنَا العَشَاء عن طَرِيق الدِليفَري	English	delivery	دِليفَري

Famous Dishes in Arab Cuisine

Eating is not just about nourishment in Arab culture; it is a social experience that brings people together. Meals are commonly shared and include a variety of dishes that blend flavors, spices, and fresh ingredients. While foods like شاورما and كباب have become popular internationally, they remain deeply rooted in Arab cuisine and are often enjoyed during gatherings, holidays, or special occasions.

• شاورما (Shawarma): A popular street food made of thin slices of meat (often chicken or beef) grilled on a rotating spit and usually served in bread with garlic sauce and pickles.
• كباب (Kebab): Grilled skewers of minced or cubed meat, often served with rice, vegetables, or bread.
• شيش طاووق (Shish Tawook): Marinated grilled chicken cubes, typically served with garlic sauce and flatbread.
• حمص (Hummus): A dip made from mashed chickpeas blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic.
• فلافل (Falafel): Fried balls or patties made from ground chickpeas or fava beans, often served in sandwiches or as part of a mezze.
• منسف (Mansaf): A traditional Jordanian dish made of lamb cooked in a fermented yogurt sauce and served over rice with flatbread.
• مقلوبة (Maqluba): A layered dish of rice, vegetables, and meat, flipped upside down before serving.
• تبولة (Tabbouleh): A fresh Levantine salad made of finely chopped parsley, tomatoes, onions, bulgur, and seasoned with olive oil and lemon juice.
• فتوش (Fattoush): A popular salad made with mixed vegetables and crispy pieces of toasted or fried Arabic bread, dressed with sumac and olive oil.
• شكشوكة (Shakshouka): A popular dish made with poached eggs cooked in a sauce of tomatoes, peppers, onions, and spices. It is often served for breakfast or brunch and is enjoyed across North Africa and the Levant.
• كسكسي (Couscous): A traditional North African dish made from steamed semolina grains, often served with vegetables and meat or stew. It is a staple in countries like Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
• طاجين (Tajine): A North African stew named after the earthenware pot it’s cooked in. It typically includes meat or chicken with vegetables, spices, and sometimes dried fruit. It is slow-cooked for deep flavor and often served with bread.
• بقلاوة (Baklava): A sweet pastry made of layers of filo dough filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey, commonly served during holidays and special gatherings.

These dishes not only reflect diverse regional flavors but also carry deep cultural significance that has been passed down through generations.

Practices

• Pair up with a classmate or AI partner and ask each other the following:

• ما هو طعامك المفضل من الطعام العربي؟ ولماذا؟
• هل أكلت من قبل طبقًا مثل الشاورما أو المنسف أو المقلوبة؟
• هل تستخدم كلمات مثل “بيتزا” أو “مايونيز” في كلامك؟ كيف؟
• ما هو طعام المفضل؟ ولماذا؟
• هل ذهبت إلى مطعم عربي ؟ ماذا أكلت

• In the chart below, fill in the blanks to describe typical meal habits in American and Arab cultures. Use complete sentences or short phrases in Arabic. Think about:
  • When meals are eaten
  • What types of foods are common
  • Table customs and eating habits
  • Use of traditional vs. borrowed words
  • Social vs. individual mealtime

You may search the internet for pictures, examples, or ideas to help complete the activity. Be sure to use the vocabulary you’ve learned in this chapter and the previous ones.

Compare & Contrast Chart:

American MEals	Arab Meals	Category
بيض- بان كيك- قهوة- دونت - سيريل وحليب	خبز- شاي- لبنة- حليب- جبن	الفطور
		الغداء
		العشاء
		الأكل في المطاعم العربية
		الأكل في المطاعم الأمريكية
		الأكل مع الأسرة
		Table Customs عادات المائدة
		Common side dishes المقبلات المشهورة

Role-play

You and a friend are at a café or casual restaurant in an Arabic-speaking country. Practice using borrowed food words (like بيتزا، ساندويش، صوص، شوكولاتة) and traditional Arab dishes (like حمص، فتوش، شاورما) in your conversation. With a partner, create a short role-play dialogue (6–8 lines total). One student will be the customer, and the other will be the server. Use the following vocabulary categories in your conversation:

• At least 3 borrowed food words
• At least 1 traditional Arab dish
• A verb in the past tense or negation
• A polite expression (e.g., من فضلك، شكرًا، هل ممكن...؟)