Language/Ladino/Vocabulary/Common-Foods
Hello Ladino learners! đ In this lesson, we will learn words for different foods and dishes in Ladino. Food is an important part of any culture, especially for Sephardi Jews. Many dishes made their way into the cultures of their Diaspora nations, and vice versa many of those cultures' foods made their way into Sephardi Jews' homes. Such is the history of synchronicity between neighbors. As always, regional pronunciations and vocabulary may vary.
Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
A few examples of each category will be given.
Fruits[edit | edit source]
| Ladino | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| agranada (Turkey, Jerusalem), mangrana (Thessaloniki, Sarajevo) | ah-grah-NAH-dah, mahn-GRAH-nah | pomegranate |
| bembriyo/bimbriyo | behm-BREE-yoh/beem-BREE-yoh | quince |
| datilé | dah-tee-LEH | date |
| igo/figo | EE-goh/FEE-goh | fig |
| karpuz | kahr-POOZ | watermelon |
| kayisĂ, abrikok | kah-yee-SEE, ah-bree-KOHK | apricot |
| portokal | pohr-toh-KAHL | orange |
| sheftalĂ/sheftelĂ, brisko | shehf-tah-LEE/shehf-teh-LEE, BREES-koh | peach |
| zirguela (Turkey), pruna (Jerusalem, Thessaloniki), almesha (Sarajevo) | zeer-GWEH-lah, PROO-nah, ahl-MEH-shah | plum |
Legumes and Vegetables[edit | edit source]
| Ladino | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| apio | AH-pee-oh | celery, celeriac |
| ava (Turkey), fijon (Thessaloniki) | AH-vah, fee-ZHOHN | bean |
| bamya | BAHM-yah | okra |
| berendjena/merendjena | beh-rehn-JEH-nah/meh-rehn-JEH-nah | eggplant, aubergine |
| endjinara | ehn-jee-NAH-rah | artichoke |
| fasulya | fah-SOOL-yah | green beans |
| karota, safanorya | kah-ROH-tah, sah-fah-NOHR-yah | carrot |
| pazĂ | pah-ZEE | chard |
| prasa | PRAH-sah | leek |
Meats and Seafood[edit | edit source]
Remember that Sephardi Jews, like all other Jews, traditionally keep kosher. This means many animals are forbidden from being eaten, including pork and shellfish.
| Ladino | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| gayna, poyo | GAHY-nah, POH-yoh | chicken |
| indiano/indiana | een-dee-AH-noh/een-dee-AH-nah | turkey |
| karne (de vaka) | KAHR-neh (deh VAH-kah) | beef |
| kodrero | koh-DREH-roh | lamb |
| peshkado/pishkado | pehsh-KAH-doh/peesh-KAH-doh | fish |
Common Dishes[edit | edit source]
Some popular dishes come from Sephardi cooking that you may not know did! Greek avgolemono, an egg-lemon soup, comes directly from "agristada." Boyoz, a well-known pastry from Izmir, comes directly from "boyos." Fish and chips come directly from "peshkado frito," as it was brought by Sephardi Jews to England after Oliver Cromwell lifted the formal ban on Jews entering in the 1650s. Jews traditionally ate this dish cold as part of Shabbat fare.
| Ladino | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| albondigĂĄs en agristada | ahl-bohn-dee-GAHS ehn ah-gree-STAH-dah | meatballs in lemon sauce |
| apio agra-dulse | AH-pee-oh AH-grah-DOOL-seh | celeriac root with lemon or bitter orange |
| armiko de tomat | ahr-MEE-koh deh toh-MAHT | rice in tomato sauce with peppers |
| fideos | fee-DEH-ohs | toasted vermicelli in a lemon and tomato sauce |
| guevos haminados | GWEH-vohs hah-mee-NAH-dohs | eggs slow-cooked in a bath of onion skins |
| karniyarik, medias de berendjena | kahr-nee-YAH-reek, MEH-dee-ahs deh beh-rehn-JEH-nah | eggplants stuffed with ground meat |
| keftes | KEHF-tehs | fritters (leek, lentil, spinach, meat or fish) |
| kuajado | kwah-ZHAH-doh | egg, cheese and zucchini casserole |
| peshkado frito | pehsh-KAH-doh FREE-toh | fried fish |
| yaprak (de parra o de kol) | yah-PRAHK (deh PAH-rrah oh deh kohl) | stuffed leaf wraps (grapevine or cabbage) |
Desserts[edit | edit source]
| Ladino | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| bimuelos/burmuelos | bee-MWEH-lohs/boor-MWEH-lohs | doughnut bites with rose or orange blossom syrup usually for Hanukkah, the Passover version is made with matzah meal |
| borekitas de muez, de alhashĂș (Edirne, Bulgaria), travados (Izmir) | boh-reh-KEE-tahs deh mwehz, deh ahl-hah-SHOO, trah-VAH-dohs | pastries filled with nuts and honey syrup |
| halvĂĄ de bimbriyo | hahl-VAH deh beem-BREE-yo | quince jelly |
| malebĂ | mah-leh-BEE | milk and rose water pudding |
| mustachudos | moo-stah-CHOO-dohs | dense, chewy clusters of ground nuts, spices and citrus rind |
| tishpishtĂ | teesh-peesh-TEE | Passover nut and syrup cake |
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Mashalla/congratulations! You have learned a lot of words and meanings for different foods and dishes in Ladino. Go and find some recipes and start cooking! Kome kon gana/eat with gusto!