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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