What does haloumi mean?
Haloumi is a semi-hard, salted white cheese with roots in Cypriot and eastern Mediterranean cooking. Traditionally produced from sheep's milk, or from sheep's and goat's milk, it has a firm texture and a distinctly salty flavor. Its brine-preserving character allows it to be kept for long periods without refrigeration in the traditional method. English-speaking cooks commonly grill or fry it so that its exterior becomes browned and crisp while the inside remains soft; it also appears in salads, sandwiches, omelets, and Mediterranean-style dishes. The cheese is commonly sold in blocks and sliced before serving. Although it contains no rennet when made in its traditional form, it is frequently called vegetarian cheese. Both haloumi and halloumi are established English spellings. Its distinctive flavor, useful melting properties, and strong association with Cyprus have made it a familiar ingredient well beyond its place of origin.
nounA semi-hard, salted white cheese traditionally made in Cyprus from sheep's milk, or a mixture of sheep's and goat's milk. It is commonly grilled, fried, or served in slices.
- A semi-hard, salted white cheese traditionally made in Cyprus, commonly served grilled, fried, or in slices.
"The salad was topped with grilled haloumi, tomatoes, and fresh mint."
"She served warm grilled haloumi with a drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice."
"Haloumi is often added to salads, omelets, and Mediterranean-style grain dishes."
The plural is uncommon and is normally used when individual pieces or portions are being counted; haloumi is generally used as a mass noun.
"Several small haloumies were arranged on the serving platter."
The cheese that squeaks when grilled and turns crisp at the edges is haloumi, Cyprus's famous brined cheese.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does haloumi come from?
The English name derives from Arabic ḥalūm (حلوم), a plural form associated with ḥilm, the Arabic word for cheese. The borrowed name reflects the cheese's established association with Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean, where it remains a familiar part of regional food culture.
How haloumi is actually used
In English, haloumi is chiefly a food noun and is usually treated as a mass noun when referring to the cheese generally. The plural is less common and generally appears when individual pieces are meant.
Easily confused with haloumi
Halloumi is an established alternative spelling of haloumi, not a different cheese.
Halal describes food or preparation permitted under Islamic law, whereas haloumi specifically names a brined cheese.