pilaf

noun

pi·​laf pi-ˈläf 

-ˈlȯf;

ˈpē-ˌläf, 

-ˌlȯf 

variants or less commonly pilaff

pi-ˈläf 

-ˈlȯf;

ˈpē-ˌläf, 

-ˌlȯf

or pilau

pi-ˈlō  -ˈlȯ 

ˈpē-(ˌ)lō, 

-ˌlȯ;

Southern often ˈpər-(ˌ)lü, 

-(ˌ)lō

or pilaw

pi-ˈlō 

-ˈlȯ, 

ˈpē-(ˌ)lō, 

-ˌlȯ;

Southern often ˈpər-(ˌ)lü, 

-(ˌ)lō

: a dish made of seasoned rice and often meat

Examples of pilaf in a Sentence

a serving of rice pilaf

Recent Examples on the Web

Serve the chicken alongside rice, pilaf, or pasta to round out the meal. — Kelsey Ogletree, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2026

Order the kabuli pulao, a fragrant lamb pilaf layered with carrots and raisins, or the qorma kadu, a sweet and savory pumpkin stew that's become one of the kitchen's signature dishes. — Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026

Shake up your rice routine with this delicious rice-and-noodle pilaf. — Lucinda Scala Quinn, Martha Stewart, 14 May 2026

There’s trout almondine with rice pilaf from California’s Sequoia National Park – golden trout live in those high-elevation lakes and streams – and cast-iron rib eyes from Lassen Volcanic National Park, which has a history of cattle ranching. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Turkish & Persian; Turkish pilav, from Persian pilāv

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pilaf

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

pilaf

noun

pi·​laf

variants also pilaff

pi-ˈläf  ˈpē-ˌläf 

or pilau

pi-ˈlō 

-ˈlȯ, 

ˈpē-;

Southern often ˈpər-lü, 

-lō

: a dish made of seasoned rice and often meat