satay: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, culinary.
Quick answer
What does “satay” mean?
A Southeast Asian dish of seasoned, skewered, and grilled meat, served with a sauce, typically peanut sauce.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Southeast Asian dish of seasoned, skewered, and grilled meat, served with a sauce, typically peanut sauce.
The term can also refer specifically to the sauce used, or to the style of cooking or flavor associated with the dish. In a broader cultural context, it evokes the street food culture of Southeast Asia.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent. Pronunciation differences follow general UK/US patterns for the vowel in the second syllable.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes exotic, flavorful, often street-style food. It is a familiar term in the context of international cuisine.
Frequency
Equally common in contexts discussing world cuisine. Slightly more frequent in UK English due to longer historical ties with Southeast Asia and prevalence in British curry houses and takeaways.
Grammar
How to Use “satay” in a Sentence
We had [NUMBER] [TYPE OF MEAT] satays.The [MEAT] is marinated for satay.She makes a brilliant [PEANUT/BEAN] satay sauce.The restaurant serves satay with [ACCOMPANIMENT].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “satay” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No established verb use.]
American English
- [No established verb use.]
adverb
British English
- [No established adverb use.]
American English
- [No established adverb use.]
adjective
British English
- The satay marinade needs lemongrass.
- We're having a satay night for dinner.
American English
- I love the satay flavor of those wings.
- They offer a satay-style tofu bowl.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the hospitality, food service, and retail sectors (e.g., 'adding a satay option to the menu', 'sales of ready-made satay sauces').
Academic
Used in anthropological, cultural, or culinary studies focusing on Southeast Asian foodways.
Everyday
Common in social contexts discussing meals, ordering food, or cooking (e.g., 'Let's get some satay from the market.', 'I'm trying a new satay recipe.').
Technical
Used in gastronomy and professional cookery to describe a specific preparation method, marinade, or sauce composition.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “satay”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “satay”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “satay”
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈsæti/ or /səˈteɪ/.
- Using it as a verb (*'I'm going to satay some chicken.').
- Confusing 'satay sauce' with generic 'peanut butter sauce'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While both involve skewered meat, satay is a specific Southeast Asian dish with a distinct marinade (often containing turmeric, lemongrass) and is typically served with a peanut-based sauce. Kebab is a broader term for skewered meats from the Middle East, Mediterranean, and South/Central Asia.
No, 'satay' is not a standard verb in English. You would say 'make satay', 'grill satay', or 'marinate meat for satay'.
In American English, it is commonly pronounced /ˈsɑːteɪ/, where the first vowel sounds like the 'a' in 'father'.
Traditionally, yes, the classic satay sauce is peanut-based. However, modern variations might use other nuts or seeds for allergy reasons, but these are not considered authentic satay sauce.
A Southeast Asian dish of seasoned, skewered, and grilled meat, served with a sauce, typically peanut sauce.
Satay is usually informal, culinary. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No established English idioms containing 'satay'.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SATAY: Skewered And Tasty Asian Yum. Imagine someone saying 'That's a tasty satay!' to remember the pronunciation and association.
Conceptual Metaphor
SATAY IS A JOURNEY (through flavor): The marinating, skewering, grilling, and dipping process is a transformative culinary journey.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary cultural origin of satay?