Teriyaki
/ˌtɛriˈjɑːki/noun
A Japanese cooking method and sauce in which food is broiled or grilled with a sweet soy-based glaze.
Did you know?The “teri” in teriyaki refers to the glossy sheen created by the sauce, so the word itself encodes the visual magic of the glaze, not just the flavor.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Modern Japanese
Japanese
teri
“shine, luster, glossy sheen”
Pre-Modern Japanese
Japanese
yaki
“grilling, broiling, or roasting”
19th Century
Japanese
teriyaki
“food prepared with a glossy glaze and grilled or broiled”
20th Century
English
teriyaki
“Japanese-style grilled or broiled food glazed with a sweet soy-based sauce”