meze: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low/Medium (context-specific, higher in food/cultural contexts)Informal to neutral, culinary/travel register.
Quick answer
What does “meze” mean?
A selection of small dishes served as appetizers or a meal in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, or Balkan cuisines.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A selection of small dishes served as appetizers or a meal in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, or Balkan cuisines.
Can refer to the social dining experience or occasion centered around sharing many small dishes, and may also figuratively describe a varied assortment of items.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'meze' is a familiar term in restaurants and supermarkets, often associated with Greek/Turkish cuisine. In the US, it is also known but may be less uniformly recognized than 'tapas' (Spanish) or 'antipasti' (Italian).
Connotations
Both varieties associate it with Mediterranean/Middle Eastern dining. In the UK, it may have slightly stronger associations with Greek/Turkish takeaways. In the US, it might be perceived as a more specialized or 'authentic' dining option.
Frequency
More frequent in UK culinary vocabulary, though still niche. In the US, regional variation is higher—more common in cities with significant Mediterranean communities.
Grammar
How to Use “meze” in a Sentence
[order] + meze[serve] + meze + [to guests][come] + with + meze[start] + with + meze[consist of] + mezeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meze” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We decided to meze our way through the menu.
- They love to meze on weekends.
American English
- We’re going to meze at the new Turkish place.
- They mezéd for hours.
adverb
British English
- They ate meze-style.
- The food arrived meze-fashion.
American English
- We dined meze-style.
- They served everything meze-fashion.
adjective
British English
- It was a meze-style dinner.
- They offer a meze platter.
American English
- A meze experience is great for groups.
- The restaurant has meze options.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May appear in restaurant/tourism marketing: 'Our business lunch includes a meze option.'
Academic
Found in cultural, anthropological, or culinary studies discussing Mediterranean foodways.
Everyday
Used in social dining contexts, restaurant choices, and travel discussions.
Technical
Used in culinary arts and hospitality management when discussing menu design or ethnic cuisines.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meze”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “meze”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meze”
- Pronouncing it as /miːz/ (like 'mees'), using it as a countable noun for a single dish (e.g., 'a hummus meze' is incorrect), misspelling as 'mezze', 'mezza', or 'mezé'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically treated as a singular, collective noun (e.g., 'a meze is served'), though the plural 'mezes' can be used when referring to multiple different assortments.
It comes from Turkish 'meze', derived from Persian 'maza', meaning 'taste' or 'relish'.
A 'meze' comprises many small dishes meant to be shared, often forming the entire meal, whereas a starter is usually a single dish consumed individually before the main course.
Yes, figuratively to describe a varied assortment or mixture of non-food items (e.g., 'a meze of musical styles'), though this usage is less common.
A selection of small dishes served as appetizers or a meal in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, or Balkan cuisines.
Meze is usually informal to neutral, culinary/travel register. in register.
Meze: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɛzeɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɛzeɪ/ or /mɛˈzeɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A meze of ideas”
- “A meze of options”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MEZE' = 'Many Easy Zesty Eats'—a variety of small, flavorful dishes.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MEZE IS A MOSAIC OF FLAVORS / A MEZE IS A SOCIAL GATHERING ON A PLATE.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym to 'meze' in a culinary context?