Updated on March 6, 2024
A recipe is more than just a set of instructions - it's a cultural artifact, a window into the history and traditions of a people. From the Italian 'ricetta' to the French 'recette' and the Spanish 'receta', the word 'recipe' has a rich heritage that spans continents and centuries. But the story of the recipe doesn't end there. In Arabic, a recipe is known as 'waraqah', reflecting the region's proud tradition of culinary excellence. Meanwhile, in China, a recipe is called 'cài shu', a term that speaks to the country's deep appreciation for the subtlety and complexity of flavor. And in Japan, a recipe is known as 'reshipi', a word that reflects the country's reverence for tradition and attention to detail. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a curious traveler, understanding the many translations of the word 'recipe' is a great way to deepen your appreciation for the world's rich culinary diversity.
Afrikaans | resep | ||
The Afrikaans word "resep" comes from the Dutch word "recept" and can also mean "prescription" or "instructions" in both languages. | |||
Amharic | የምግብ አሰራር | ||
The Amharic word "የምግብ አሰራር" (recipe) is derived from the verb "አሰራ" (to work, to make), indicating the process of preparing food. | |||
Hausa | girke-girke | ||
The word "girke-girke" in Hausa also means "instructions" or "directions." | |||
Igbo | ntụziaka | ||
The word "Ntụziaka" also means "instructions" or "guidelines" in Igbo. | |||
Malagasy | fomba fahandro | ||
The Malagasy word "fomba fahandro" literally means "the manner of cooking." | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | chinsinsi | ||
The word "Chinsinsi" is the diminutive form of the word "Chinsinsi" (meaning "wisdom"), implying that a recipe is a form of condensed wisdom. | |||
Shona | recipe | ||
In Shona, "cipe" can also mean "a written list of ingredients and instructions for cooking a dish". | |||
Somali | karinta | ||
The word "karinta" can also refer to a meal that is typically served with rice. | |||
Sesotho | risepe | ||
The word 'risepe' in Sesotho has been derived from the Afrikaans word 'resep', which in turn has its roots in the Dutch word 'recept' meaning 'to take' or 'to receive'. | |||
Swahili | mapishi | ||
The word "mapishi" in Swahili can also refer to a set of instructions or a plan. | |||
Xhosa | iresiphi | ||
The word 'iresiphi' is also used to describe a remedy or a cure, and can be literally translated as 'that which fixes'. | |||
Yoruba | ohunelo | ||
Ohunelo, which means "recipe," is also the name for "the ingredients used to make a dish." | |||
Zulu | iresiphi | ||
The Zulu word "iresiphi" comes from the Arabic word "ṣaḥīfa" meaning "page" or "sheet of paper". | |||
Bambara | eresɛti | ||
Ewe | nuɖaɖa ŋuti ɖoɖo | ||
Kinyarwanda | resept | ||
Lingala | ndenge ya kolamba | ||
Luganda | ebirungo | ||
Sepedi | motswako | ||
Twi (Akan) | aduanenoa akadeɛ | ||
Arabic | وصفة | ||
وصفة derives from a root meaning "to describe" and originally meant "prescription (medical)". | |||
Hebrew | מתכון | ||
The word "מתכון" in Hebrew can also refer to a chemical formula, a prescription, or a method. | |||
Pashto | نسخه | ||
The Pashto word "نسخه" originates from the Arabic word "وصفة" (wasfa), meaning "prescription" or "formula." | |||
Arabic | وصفة | ||
وصفة derives from a root meaning "to describe" and originally meant "prescription (medical)". |
Albanian | recetë | ||
The word "recetë" in Albanian is derived from the Latin "recipere," meaning "to receive" or "to take back." | |||
Basque | errezeta | ||
The word "errezeta" is derived from the Latin word "recipere," meaning "to take." | |||
Catalan | recepta | ||
Catalan "recepta" comes from Latin "accepta", meaning "things received". | |||
Croatian | recept | ||
The word "recept" in Croatian is derived from the Latin word "recipere," meaning "to receive" or "to take back". | |||
Danish | opskrift | ||
The word "opskrift" originally meant "copy of a written source" and was later used for a written set of instructions, often for cooking. | |||
Dutch | recept | ||
In Dutch, "recept" can also mean "receipt," derived from the Latin "receptum," meaning "something received." | |||
English | recipe | ||
The English word “recipe” can also mean a medical prescription, as it derives from the Latin verb recipere 'to receive.' | |||
French | recette | ||
In French, the word "recette" also has the meanings "receipt" and "revenue". | |||
Frisian | resept | ||
The Frisian word "resept" can also mean "prescription" in a medical context. | |||
Galician | receita | ||
The Galician word "receita" derives from the Latin "recepta", meaning "a thing received" and can refer to a medical prescription or a culinary recipe. | |||
German | rezept | ||
The word "Rezept" also means "prescription" and comes from the Latin word "recipere" meaning "to receive". | |||
Icelandic | uppskrift | ||
Icelandic uppskrift derives from its use in medical contexts from Old Norse "up skrift" ("to write upwards"), to write instructions for medicines, which were placed atop a cup or container. | |||
Irish | oideas | ||
In Irish folklore, "oideas" was also a charm intended to produce a particular ailment, such as paralysis (from the verb "oideas" meaning "to paralyze"). | |||
Italian | ricetta | ||
The Italian word "ricetta" can also mean a medical prescription. | |||
Luxembourgish | rezept | ||
In Luxembourgish, "Rezept" also means "prescription" and is a loanword from the French word "recette". | |||
Maltese | riċetta | ||
The word 'riċetta' is derived from the Italian word 'ricetta', meaning 'prescription' or 'formula'. | |||
Norwegian | oppskrift | ||
"Oppskrift" is a compound noun that originally meant "written instruction" or "prescription". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | receita | ||
The word "receita" in Portuguese can also mean "prescription" or "revenue". | |||
Scots Gaelic | reasabaidh | ||
The word "reasabaidh" has a more general meaning of "direction" or "rule" in Scots Gaelic, and is related to the Gaelic word "sabaid," meaning "to command". | |||
Spanish | receta | ||
The word "receta" in Spanish can also refer to a medical prescription. | |||
Swedish | recept | ||
The Swedish word "recept" originally referred to any kind of instruction manual. | |||
Welsh | rysáit | ||
"Rysaít" is a loanword from Latin "recipere" via the Old French "recette" |
Belarusian | рэцэпт | ||
Bosnian | recept | ||
The Bosnian word "recept" also means "receipt", derived from Latin "receptum" meaning "received". | |||
Bulgarian | рецепта | ||
The word 'рецепта' (recipe) shares a common ancestor with the word 'прецепт' (precept) which means a rule of conduct, guideline, or principle. | |||
Czech | recept | ||
The word "recept" in Czech originally meant "a prescription issued by a doctor". | |||
Estonian | retsept | ||
The word "retsept" in Estonian can also refer to a prescription written by a physician. | |||
Finnish | resepti | ||
The Finnish word 'resepti' originates from the Latin word 'receptum', which means 'something received' and was used in medicine to refer to a prescribed remedy. | |||
Hungarian | recept | ||
In Hungarian, the word "recept" can also refer to a prescription given by a physician. | |||
Latvian | recepte | ||
The word 'recepte' also refers to a prescription written by a doctor. | |||
Lithuanian | receptas | ||
The word "receptas" (recipe) in Lithuanian may also refer to a prescription. | |||
Macedonian | рецепт | ||
The Macedonian word "рецепт" comes from the Latin "receptum", meaning "something received". | |||
Polish | przepis | ||
The word "przepis" derives from the Old Polish verb "przepisati," meaning "to write over" or "to copy". | |||
Romanian | reţetă | ||
The Romanian word "reţetă" is related to the Latin root "recipere", meaning "to receive", reflecting the notion of receiving a set of instructions. | |||
Russian | рецепт | ||
The term "рецепт" is also used in medicine to refer to a physician's prescription or written instructions for dispensing and taking medication. | |||
Serbian | рецепт | ||
In Serbian, the word "рецепт" can also refer to a medical prescription. | |||
Slovak | recept | ||
The word "recept" in Slovak also means "reception", "administration of medicine", or "admission to a hospital". | |||
Slovenian | recept | ||
The Slovenian word "recept" is derived from the Latin "receptum" and can also refer to a medical prescription. | |||
Ukrainian | рецепт | ||
The Ukrainian word “рецепт” derives from the Latin word “receptum”, meaning “received” or “taken.” |
Bengali | রেসিপি | ||
"রেসিপি" is a borrowed word from the English language. In English it means a list of ingredients used to make a food dish and the steps to follow during preparation. | |||
Gujarati | રેસીપી | ||
A 'recipe' can also mean a 'medical prescription' in English. | |||
Hindi | विधि | ||
The word "विधि" originates from the Sanskrit word "विधा" (arrangement). | |||
Kannada | ಪಾಕವಿಧಾನ | ||
The word | |||
Malayalam | പാചകക്കുറിപ്പ് | ||
Marathi | कृती | ||
The Marathi word 'कृती' (krti) comes from the Sanskrit word 'कृति' (kṛti), which means 'doing' or 'making'. | |||
Nepali | नुस्खा | ||
The word "नुस्खा" has its origins in Persian and is derived from the word "noskh," which means "prescription, formula, or instruction." | |||
Punjabi | ਵਿਅੰਜਨ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | වට්ටෝරුව | ||
In medieval Sinhala literature, "recipe" also meant "a verse or a line in a stanza" or "an aphorism, a maxim or a proverb". | |||
Tamil | செய்முறை | ||
Telugu | రెసిపీ | ||
The English word "recipe" originated from the Latin word "recipe," which means "take" or "receive." | |||
Urdu | نسخہ | ||
The word نسخہ (recipe) is derived from the Arabic word نسخ 'to copy', and it also means a 'transcript', 'document', or 'prescription'. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 食谱 | ||
食谱 (shípǔ) also means "eating habit" or "diet". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 食譜 | ||
食譜 is a homophone of 食腐, which means necrophagy, reflecting the ancient practice of hunting and eating animals. | |||
Japanese | レシピ | ||
The word レシピ (recipe) is derived from the Latin word "recipere", meaning "to take" or "to receive". | |||
Korean | 레시피 | ||
레시피 is also the Korean pronunciation of 'recipe' in English. | |||
Mongolian | жор | ||
In Mongolian, “жор” also refers to “the process of preparing or cooking food” or a “specific style or method of cooking.” | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | စာရွက် | ||
The word “စာရွက်” (recipe) in Myanmar (Burmese) originally meant “leaves of paper” (literally “written leaves”). |
Indonesian | resep | ||
The word "resep" in Indonesian also means "prescription" or "formula". | |||
Javanese | resep | ||
In Javanese "resep" also means "to take" or "to hold". | |||
Khmer | រូបមន្ត | ||
The word "រូបមន្ត" also means "formula" or "prescription" in Khmer, indicating its broader application beyond culinary contexts. | |||
Lao | ສູດ | ||
The word “สูດ” is derived from Sanskrit, through Pali and Thai. | |||
Malay | resipi | ||
The word "resipi" in Malay is derived from the Javanese word "resèp" and originally meant "a method of preparation, composition, or mixture". | |||
Thai | สูตรอาหาร | ||
"สูตรอาหาร" (recipe) can also mean a mathematical formula. | |||
Vietnamese | công thức | ||
Công thức có thể dùng để chỉ một quy trình hoặc phương pháp để làm thứ gì đó. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | recipe | ||
Azerbaijani | resept | ||
In Azerbaijani, "resept" also means "order", derived from the Persian word "reshte" meaning "line" or "order". | |||
Kazakh | рецепт | ||
The Kazakh word "рецепт" originally meant "prescription" in Russian, but now also refers to a cooking recipe. | |||
Kyrgyz | рецепт | ||
The word "рецепт" in Kyrgyz also means "medical prescription" and comes from the Latin word "recipere" meaning "to take, receive, or obtain." | |||
Tajik | дорухат | ||
The Tajik word "дорухат" comes from the Persian word "دارو" meaning "medicine" and is also used in other Iranian languages with the same meaning. | |||
Turkmen | resept | ||
Uzbek | retsept | ||
The word "retsept" in Uzbek not only means "recipe", but it can also refer to "prescription" in the medical context. | |||
Uyghur | رېتسېپ | ||
Hawaiian | meaʻai | ||
The word "meaʻai" can also refer to food or a favorite dish. | |||
Maori | tohutao | ||
The word "tohutao" in Maori originally referred to a "portion" or "ingredient", and later evolved to mean "recipe". | |||
Samoan | fua | ||
Fua is also used in the context of other preparations, like in medicine and the preparation of dyes. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | resipe | ||
The Tagalog word "resipe" also refers to a song sung after dinner which can be either about love, family, or social issues. |
Aymara | risita | ||
Guarani | apopyrã | ||
Esperanto | recepto | ||
The Esperanto word "recepto" is derived from the Latin "receptum", meaning "something received" | |||
Latin | consequat | ||
In Medieval Latin, 'consequat' could refer to the 'medical prescription of a physician' |
Greek | συνταγή | ||
The word "συνταγή" in Greek also means "prescription" or "formula". | |||
Hmong | daim ntawv qhia | ||
The word "daim ntawv qhia" also has meanings such as "instructions" and "directions". | |||
Kurdish | reçete | ||
The Kurdish word "reçete" is derived from the Arabic word "ratsat" which means "observation". | |||
Turkish | yemek tarifi | ||
The word "yemek tarifi" in Turkish literally translates to "food formula". | |||
Xhosa | iresiphi | ||
The word 'iresiphi' is also used to describe a remedy or a cure, and can be literally translated as 'that which fixes'. | |||
Yiddish | רעצעפּט | ||
The Yiddish word "רעצעפּט" ultimately derives from the Latin word "recipere", meaning "to take" or "to receive". | |||
Zulu | iresiphi | ||
The Zulu word "iresiphi" comes from the Arabic word "ṣaḥīfa" meaning "page" or "sheet of paper". | |||
Assamese | ৰেচিপি | ||
Aymara | risita | ||
Bhojpuri | नुसखा | ||
Dhivehi | ރެސިޕީ | ||
Dogri | नुस्खा | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | recipe | ||
Guarani | apopyrã | ||
Ilocano | kita ti panagluto | ||
Krio | aw fɔ kuk | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | ڕەچەتە | ||
Maithili | विधि | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯆꯤꯟꯖꯥꯛ ꯊꯣꯡꯕꯒꯤ ꯄꯥꯎꯇꯥꯛ | ||
Mizo | eisiamna hmanrua | ||
Oromo | tartiiba midhaan ittiin qopheessan | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ରେସିପି | | ||
Quechua | receta | ||
Sanskrit | व्यंजनं | ||
Tatar | рецепт | ||
Tigrinya | ኣሰራርሓ | ||
Tsonga | rhisipi | ||