hungarian goulash: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumNeutral to informal. Used in everyday contexts when discussing food, travel, or culture. The metaphorical use is informal.
Quick answer
What does “hungarian goulash” mean?
A traditional Hungarian stew of meat (usually beef), vegetables, and paprika, cooked slowly until tender.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A traditional Hungarian stew of meat (usually beef), vegetables, and paprika, cooked slowly until tender.
Can metaphorically refer to any chaotic mixture or jumble of disparate elements, drawing on the image of a stew containing many ingredients. Also used to describe a situation or system that is complex and disorderly.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'goulash' alone is commonly understood to refer to the Hungarian dish. In the US, the full 'Hungarian goulash' is more typical to distinguish it from 'American goulash', a different dish (often with pasta and tomato sauce).
Connotations
UK: Primarily a specific foreign dish. US: Could require clarification between the traditional Hungarian and the Americanized version.
Frequency
Higher frequency in US due to the existence of the distinct 'American goulash', necessitating the qualifier 'Hungarian'.
Grammar
How to Use “hungarian goulash” in a Sentence
[Subject] makes/serves/eats Hungarian goulash.Hungarian goulash [Verb: contains/features/is made with] [ingredients].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hungarian goulash” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We goulashed the beef for hours.
- The chef is goulashing the meat.
American English
- She decided to goulash the leftover roast.
adjective
British English
- The menu had a goulash-style soup.
- It was a very goulash-flavoured sauce.
American English
- He loved that goulash taste.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Metaphorically, 'The merger created a Hungarian goulash of corporate policies.'
Academic
Rare, except in cultural or food studies contexts.
Everyday
Common when discussing cooking, restaurants, or travel experiences.
Technical
Used in culinary contexts to specify a dish prepared according to traditional Hungarian methods.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hungarian goulash”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hungarian goulash”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hungarian goulash”
- Spelling: 'goulasch', 'goulahsh'.
- Pronunciation: stressing the first syllable of 'goulash' (/ˈɡuː.læʃ/ instead of /ˈɡuː.læʃ/).
- Using 'goulash' to mean any soup or stew.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
All goulashes are stews, but not all stews are goulash. Goulash specifically denotes a Hungarian-style stew, prominently seasoned with paprika.
Hungarian goulash is a paprika-based meat and vegetable stew. American goulash (or 'American chop suey') is a different, quick dish of ground beef, tomatoes, and macaroni.
Yes, informally. It can describe a confused mixture or jumble of things (e.g., 'The report was a goulash of facts and rumours').
In both UK and US English, the stress is on the first syllable: GOO-lash. The 'ou' is like 'goo', and the 'a' is like the 'a' in 'ash'.
A traditional Hungarian stew of meat (usually beef), vegetables, and paprika, cooked slowly until tender.
Hungarian goulash is usually neutral to informal. used in everyday contexts when discussing food, travel, or culture. the metaphorical use is informal. in register.
Hungarian goulash: in British English it is pronounced /hʌŋˈɡeə.ri.ən ˈɡuː.læʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /həŋˈɡer.i.ən ˈɡuː.lɑːʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It was a real Hungarian goulash of ideas.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A HUNGRY (Hungarian) man GOES (goulash) for a big bowl of stew.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPLEXITY/CHAOS IS A MIXED STEW (e.g., 'The legislation was a political goulash').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary spice that defines Hungarian goulash?