callaloo
|cal-la-loo|
/ˌkæləˈluː/
Caribbean leafy greens / the stew made from them
Etymology
'callaloo' originates from Caribbean English, specifically from French Antillean 'calalou' (also attested in various Creole forms).
'callaloo' changed from the French Antillean/Creole form 'calalou' and was adopted into English Caribbean varieties as 'callaloo'.
Initially, it referred primarily to the leafy greens used in local cooking; over time it also came to denote the prepared dish (soup/stew) made from those greens.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a Caribbean soup or stew made from leafy greens (such as amaranth, taro leaves, or spinach), often cooked with ingredients like okra, coconut milk, salted meat, or seasonings.
For Sunday lunch they prepared a pot of callaloo with salted pork and coconut milk.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/09 00:41