souvlaki

noun

sou·​vla·​ki süv-ˈlä-kē 

variants or less commonly souvlakia

süv-ˈlä-kē-ə 

: shish kebab

Examples of souvlaki in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The spanakopita is crisp and nicely done; the saganaki impressive, with a perfectly crispy exterior and molten lava interior; and the tender chicken souvlaki butter lettuce salad with garlicky red wine vinaigrette, super fresh and tasty. —Laura Ness, Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2026

The expansive buffet will feature a selection of traditional Mediterranean dishes like Greek salad, spanakopita, gyros, souvlaki, moussaka, baklava and more. —Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 10 Dec. 2025

Its menu also includes rice bowls, handhelds, souvlaki and separate seafood menu. —Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 10 Nov. 2025

The staff is brisk, used to locals ordering with a shorthand as precise as Philly cheesesteak lingo, and the souvlaki itself is unlike anywhere else in Athens—simple, spicy, smoky, and closer to kebab than the standard style. —Katherine Whittaker, Saveur, 9 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for souvlaki

• bacchae
• jacky
• lackey
• tacky
• wacky