falafel

noun

fa·​la·​fel fə-ˈlä-fəl 

variants or less commonly felafel

plural falafel also felafel

: a spicy mixture of ground vegetables (such as chickpeas or fava beans) formed into balls or patties and then fried

Examples of falafel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Visit the Naschmarkt—offering everything from sauerkraut to Syrian falafel—while the MuseumsQuartier blends baroque courtyards with contemporary installations. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Another ode to the Midwest comes in Purslane’s walleye falafel ($21), where bits of the freshwater fish are folded into classic chickpea falafel batter and deep fried. —Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025

But the chickpea falafel — paired with tahini dip — makes Phoenician Kabob stand out, its crisp outer crust and fluffy-soft inner texture combining into an irresistible snack. —Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 21 Aug. 2025

My son ordered a falafel salad from a restaurant. —Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Arabic falāfil

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for falafel

• unlawful
• awful
• lawful
• offal
• waffle