souvlaki

noun sou·vla·ki \ süv-ˈlä-kē \

variants: or less commonly souvlakia play \süv-ˈlä-kē-ə\

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Definition of souvlaki

: shish kebab

Recent Examples of souvlaki from the Web

Is anyone a vegan that couldn’t do a food tour sampling souvlaki and feta cheese?

— amy louise bailey, Vogue, "How to Master the Art of Group Travel," 7 June 2018
This is great to use with chicken or souvlaki before grilling.

— judy buchenot, chicagotribune.com, "Suburban Cooks: Greek fest revives traditional dishes," 4 May 2018
But, not too much notice: Saturday, March 31, is your last day for flaming Saganaki or lamb souvlaki.

— domenica bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star, "Brunch like a champ, a stink-free cigar bar & free music in Fishers," 28 Mar. 2018
Rotisseries spin with cones of pork and chicken for souvlaki and gyros, the sandwiches made with fluffy pitas and accompanied with thick and creamy cucumber yogurt sauce, tzatziki ($7.95 to 8.50).

— ann trieger kurland, BostonGlobe.com, "Authentic Greek to grab and go at the Grape Leaf," 2 Apr. 2018
New Yorkers may relish the city’s diverse street-food offerings, from schnitzel to souvlaki.

— charles passy, WSJ, "Why Isn’t New York More Habitable For Food Trucks?," 26 Mar. 2018
Just be sure to add the SNFCC to your itinerary for your next trip to Athens—along with O Kostas for the best souvlaki in town.

— laura dannen redman, Condé Nast Traveler, "'Live From Lincoln Center' Goes to Athens, and We May Follow," 23 Mar. 2018
Book a room in the shadow of the Acropolis at the new-as-of-2015 AthensWas boutique hotel, and make time for a souvlaki (or three) at O Kostas, which serves the best in town.

— katherine lagrave, Condé Nast Traveler, "Flight Deal: Chicago, NYC to Greece from $464 Round-Trip," 2 Feb. 2018
Menus are typically made up of American standards with an emphasis on breakfast such as eggs, hashbrowns, pancakes, club sandwiches, burgers and sometimes, especially in New York and New Jersey, gyros, souvlaki and Greek salads.

— OregonLive.com, "The 15 best (remaining) diners throughout the Portland area," 20 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'souvlaki.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of souvlaki

Modern Greek soublakia, plural of soublaki, from diminutive of soubla skewer, from Middle Greek, from Latin subula awl, from suere to sew — more at sew

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1942

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year