Calalu
/ˌkæl.əˈluː/noun
A Caribbean dish or stew, also referring to the leafy plant commonly used in it.
Did you know?Calalu is an established variant of callaloo, but its deeper African-language source is uncertain, so claims assigning it confidently to one specific ‘ancient magical’ root are unreliable.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-modern period
West African languages
Uncertain
“The ultimate source is disputed; scholars have not securely identified a single African etymon.”
18th–19th Century
Caribbean English
callaloo
“A leafy green vegetable and the soup or stew prepared from it.”
19th Century
Caribbean English
calalu
“A documented variant spelling referring to callaloo or a dish made from it.”
19th–20th Century
English
calalou
“Another Caribbean spelling variant for the same plant or dish.”
Modern English
English
calalu
“A regional or historical term for callaloo, especially in Caribbean culinary contexts.”