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chow mein

/ˌtʃaʊ ˈmeɪn/ Chinese Origin Food & Drink

Original Word

炒面

Cantonese (chāau mihn)

Entered English

Early 20th century

First recorded usage in English

The Story Behind "chow mein"

From Cantonese 'chāau mihn' (炒面), literally 'stir-fried noodles'. Became one of the most popular Chinese-American dishes in the early 20th century.

Example Usage

"I'll have the chow mein with chicken, please."

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