Meaning & use
za'atar
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountable
A Middle Eastern herb with a sharp, lemony taste, or a spice mix made from it with sesame and salt.
Grammar: Uncountable, used like 'salt': some za'atar, a pinch of za'atar.
Patterns
- a pinch of za'atar
- sprinkle za'atar on something
She brushed the flatbread with olive oil and sprinkled za'atar on top.
The za'atar in this shop is mixed with toasted sesame seeds and sumac.
Add a spoonful of za'atar to the yogurt for a quick dip.
Common combinations
- sprinkle za'atar
- Sprinkle za'atar over the hummus before serving.
- za'atar bread
- We ordered warm za'atar bread with our mezze.
- a pinch of za'atar
- A pinch of za'atar lifts the flavor of plain tomatoes.
- za'atar and olive oil
- The classic breakfast is za'atar and olive oil with bread.
Synonyms and how they differ
- herb mix
- A general term; za'atar is one specific Middle Eastern blend, not any herb mix.
Commonly confused: za'atar or sumac?
za'atar vs sumac
Sumac is a red, sour spice often included in za'atar, but it is a separate ingredient.
Practice
Which sentence uses za'atar correctly?
Choose one answer.
Za'atar is uncountable and used as a seasoning, so 'sprinkled za'atar on' is correct. 'Two za'atars' and 'are' wrongly treat it as a countable plural, and 'za'atared' is not a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “za'atar”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.