What does ouzo mean?
Ouzo is a Greek alcoholic spirit distinguished by its anise flavor and its customary service with water. When water is poured into the clear spirit, the anise oil disperses and creates the cloudy appearance for which the drink is well known. Ouzo is generally served chilled, often with ice, lemon, and small snacks such as almonds or seafood, and is commonly associated with Greek tavernas, holidays, and family celebrations. The name refers specifically to the Greek spirit, although other Mediterranean countries produce related anise-flavored drinks, including Turkish raki and Levantine arak. In English, ouzo can denote either the undiluted spirit or a serving of the drink mixed with water, depending on context. It is useful as a precise cultural term that identifies one particularly famous member of the wider family of anise-flavored liquors.
nounA Greek alcoholic spirit flavored with anise and usually served diluted with water. Its distillation and the addition of anise oil often give it a cloudy appearance.
- A clear or cloudy Greek alcoholic spirit flavored with anise, commonly served with water.
"They ordered a round of ouzo with lunch and watched the clear spirit turn milky as water was added."
"The café served chilled ouzo with lemon and a small dish of almonds."
"Ouzo became a traditional accompaniment to a Greek seafood dinner."
Used when referring to multiple servings or separate bottles of ouzo.
"The restaurant stocks several ouzos made by small Greek distilleries."
Add water to ouzo and its clear liquid turns cloudy—a visual transformation produced by the anise oil.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ouzo come from?
English borrowed the word from Modern Greek ούζο, the name of the spirit. The deeper origin of the Greek name is uncertain, although the drink is closely associated with longstanding Greek and eastern Mediterranean traditions of distilling alcohol and flavoring it with anise. The English name came into use in the 19th century and is now most strongly associated with the Greek version of the drink.
How ouzo is actually used
In English, ouzo usually refers specifically to the Greek spirit rather than to the broader category of anise-flavored distilled drinks. It may be served neat, with ice, or diluted with water.
Easily confused with ouzo
Ouzo is the established Greek anise-flavored spirit, whereas raki is the better-known Turkish spirit made with anise or grape-based alcohol.