tzatziki

noun

(d)zäd-ˈzē-kē 

(t)sät-ˈsē-,

(t)sat-ˈsē,

tat-ˈsē

: a Greek yogurt sauce made with cucumbers and garlic

In Cyprus, I learned how to mix olive oil, thick yogurt, some minced garlic and chopped cucumbers to make a quick, refreshing tzatziki dip …

—Nancy Harmon Jenkins

Examples of tzatziki in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The dish is so beloved, especially during the colder months, that it is sometimes called the national food of the Greeks, even more so than the famed salad, tzatziki or souvlaki. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2025

Dishes on the brunch menu are served sharing-style, beginning with a variety of mezze (appetizers), such as refreshing tzatziki, warm spinach pie and crispy calamari. —Natasha Amar, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025

Add-ins include hummus, tabouli, tzatziki sauce, olives and other veggies. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2025

There are some international offerings as well, including Korean chicken bao buns, szechuan chili chicken, tzatziki and spicy feta and chicken potstickers. —Molly Davis, The Tennessean, 1 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Modern Greek tzatzíki, borrowed from Turkish cacık, earlier (17th century) cacıh̯ "kind of edible herb," of obscure origin

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tzatziki

• cheeky
• creaky
• freaky
• leaky
• sneaky
• squeaky
• streaky