zaatar

See also: za'atar

English

Alternative forms

za'tar (stricter transliterations)
za'atar, zatar (nonstandard)

Etymology

From Arabic زَعْتَر (zaʕtar), صَعْتَر (ṣaʕtar, “wild thyme; condiment made from this herb”), probably from Classical Syriac ܨܬܪܐ (ṣāṯrā), related to Hebrew צַתְרָה (ṣátrā).

Pronunciation

(UK) IPA^(key): /ˈzɑːtɑː/
(US) IPA^(key): /ˈzɑtɑɹ/
Audio (General American): (file)

Noun

zaatar (uncountable)

A particular herb, similar in flavor to thyme or oregano, used in Middle Eastern cuisine (Origanum syriacum).
A Middle Eastern seasoning, having this herb or a mixture of herbs as the main ingredient, with sumac (or other tart-flavored equivalent) and sesame seeds.

Derived terms

zaatar bread

Translations

herb

Arabic: زَعْتَر نَابُلْسِيّ m (zaʕtar nābulsiyy)
Aramaic: ܡܲܪܘܵܐ / מַרְוָא m (marwā)
Classical Syriac: ܨܬܪܐ m (ṣāṯrā)
Hebrew: זַעְתַּר (he) m (zá'tar), אֵזוֹב (he) m (ezóv)
Sicilian: satra f
Spanish: za'atar m, zaatar m, zatar m, zahatar m

seasoning

Arabic: خُلْطَة زَعْتَر نَابُلْسِيّ f (ḵulṭat zaʕtar nābulsiyy), زَعْتَر نَابُلْسِيّ m (zaʕtar nābulsiyy)
Aramaic: please add this translation if you can
Classical Syriac: ܨܬܪܐ m (ṣāṯrā)
French: zaatar (fr) m
Hebrew: זַעְתַּר (he) m (zá'tar)
Japanese: ザアタル (zaataru), ザータル (zātaru)
Polish: zatar (pl) m
Russian: за́атар (ru) m (záatar), за́тар (ru) m (zátar)
Sicilian: satra f
Spanish: za'atar m, zaatar m, zatar m, zahatar m

References

“zaatar”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.