CultureJuly 17, 2026

ghee

/ɡiː/

Definition

A type of clarified butter used in cooking, made by simmering butter to remove milk solids and water, resulting in a rich, nutty flavor.

Etymology

The word comes from the Hindi 'ghī', which is derived from the Sanskrit word 'ghṛta', meaning 'sprinkled'. It entered English in the 19th century to describe the specific clarified butter common in South Asian cooking.

In the news

In the article, ghee is cited as a traditional ingredient used in Bahraini cuisine to enrich dishes like harees and various local sweets.

The Middle East's smallest state offers some of the region's biggest flavours

Read the full article ↗

National Geographic

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.

Not for marketing. One email on launch day.