What does maki mean?
Maki is a Japanese-style sushi roll made by wrapping vinegared rice and a filling in seaweed, or sometimes another ingredient. Typical fillings include cucumber, avocado, fish, crab, and other seafood, with the precise combination varying widely. The roll is usually sliced into small rounds before being served with soy sauce, pickled ginger, and wasabi. In English, “maki” can refer to one individual roll, as in “a spicy maki,” or more broadly to rolls of this kind, as in “California maki.” It should not be confused with every form of sushi: nigiri consists of a small mound of vinegared rice topped with fish or another ingredient, whereas maki encloses its filling in a rolled structure. The word is especially common in menus and restaurant food descriptions, including in both British and American English.
nounA Japanese-style sushi roll made with vinegared rice, usually wrapped in seaweed and containing fish, vegetables, or other ingredients. The term is also sometimes used collectively for such rolls.
- A Japanese-style sushi roll consisting of rice and other ingredients wrapped, usually, in seaweed.
"She ordered a cucumber maki with soy sauce for lunch."
"The maki arrived with soy sauce, pickled ginger, and wasabi."
"For a lighter option, she chose vegetable maki instead of fried food."
The plural is “makis,” although “maki” may also be used collectively when referring to this type of sushi roll.
"The menu offers vegetarian makis, smoked-salmon makis, and spicy tuna makis."
Maki takes its name from the Japanese word for a roll, reflecting the neat cylinder of rice and filling that gives the dish its form.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does maki come from?
The English word comes from Japanese, in which maki (巻) means “roll” and is associated with rolled food. It entered English culinary vocabulary through Japanese cuisine, with the older French culinary borrowing “maki” also contributing to its international use. Related Japanese-derived English terms include makimono, a traditional scroll, and makiwara, a martial-arts training implement.
How maki is actually used
In English restaurant usage, “maki” is a culinary loanword and is now treated as an ordinary noun. The plural “makis” is standard, although the word may also be used collectively when referring to a type of roll.