Baqlawah
/bɑːkˈlɑː.wə/noun
A variant transliteration of Arabic baqlāwa, referring to the layered pastry known in English as baklava.
Did you know?The word’s ultimate origin remains disputed: proposed sources include Turkish, Persian, Arabic, and even Mongolian, so the pastry’s name is as layered as the dessert itself.
Etymological Timeline
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
بَقْلَاوَة (baqlāwa)
“A layered, nut-filled pastry; the precise origin of the term is uncertain.”
Ottoman Period
Ottoman Turkish
baklava
“A rich pastry made from thin layers of dough, nuts, and syrup.”
18th–19th Century
Greek
μπακλαβάς (baklavás)
“Baklava, adopted from Ottoman Turkish.”
19th Century
English
baklava
“A sweet pastry of layered filo dough, nuts, and syrup.”
Modern English
English
baqlawah
“A less common transliteration of the Arabic form baqlāwa.”