Yakisoba
/ˌjɑːkiˈsoʊbə/noun
A Japanese dish of stir-fried noodles, usually made with meat, vegetables, and a savory sauce.
Did you know?Yakisoba is a modern Japanese compound, and its power is in the word itself: *yaki* means “fried/grilled/baked,” while *soba* originally meant buckwheat noodles, though yakisoba is usually made with wheat noodles today.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Japonic
PJ
*yaki
“to burn, roast, or cook over heat”
Old Japanese
OJ
yaku
“to burn, roast, or grill”
Japanese
JPN
soba
“buckwheat; buckwheat noodles”
Japanese
JPN
yakisoba
“fried noodles”
Modern English
EN
yakisoba
“a Japanese dish of stir-fried noodles”
Explore more surprising origins