ketchup

/ˈketʃ.əp/ Chinese Origin Food & Drink

Original Word

茄汁

Hokkien Chinese (kê-tsiap)

Entered English

Late 17th century

First recorded usage in English

The Story Behind "ketchup"

From Hokkien Chinese 'kê-tsiap' (茄汁), a fermented fish sauce. The word traveled through Malay 'kecap' and was borrowed into English in the late 17th century. The tomato-based version became popular in America during the 19th century.

Example Usage

"Would you like some ketchup with your fries?"

All Chinese Loanwords Look Up in Dictionary

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