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

Chickpeas The main ingredient in hummus and falafel, chickpeas are teeming with protein. — Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 5 July 2026

Start with the Single Smash, layered with griddled onions, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and smash sauce, then explore variations from there, including a falafel smash for vegetarians. — Kaila Yu, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Where to Eat Lebanese Flower Café, a farmers market favorite for 20 years, opened its first brick-and-mortar shop on Mass Street in late 2025, serving shawarma, falafel, and other Middle Eastern dishes. — Chris Dong, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026

Look for stalls selling falafel, dosas, bao and tacos, often side by side. — Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Arabic falāfil

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for falafel

• unlawful
• awful
• lawful
• offal
• waffle