Ume
/ˈuː.meɪ/noun
A Japanese tree, Prunus mume, and its small, sour fruit, often called a Japanese plum or Japanese apricot.
Did you know?Ume fruit is traditionally preserved as umeboshi, whose intense sourness and saltiness made it a long-standing staple in Japanese cuisine and folklore.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Middle Chinese
梅
“The plum or Japanese apricot; the ultimate source commonly proposed for the Japanese word.”
Old Japanese
Japanese
ume
“The name of the Prunus mume tree and its fruit.”
Classical Japanese
Japanese
梅
“The plum-like flowering tree, celebrated in poetry and seasonal symbolism.”
20th Century
Botanical Latin
Prunus mume
“The scientific name assigned to the species commonly known in English as Japanese plum or Japanese apricot.”
Modern English
English
ume
“A Japanese plum or Japanese apricot, especially its fruit used in foods and drinks.”