Leben
/ˈlɛbən/noun
A fermented milk drink traditionally consumed in the Middle East and surrounding regions.
Did you know?Leben is an English loanword from Arabic laban, while related forms such as labneh preserve the same Semitic milk-root in modern cuisine.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*lbn
“A root associated with milk or whiteness”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
laban
“Milk; a fermented milk product”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
laban
“Milk and cultured dairy preparations”
19th Century
English
leben
“A Middle Eastern fermented milk drink”
Modern English
English
leben
“A cultured or fermented milk beverage”