What does raki mean?
Raki is a clear, anise-flavored alcoholic drink associated especially with Turkey and the Balkans. Its characteristic licorice-like aroma comes from anise or a related aniseed flavoring, and it is often diluted with water before drinking. Raki has a strong cultural association with shared meals: it may accompany grilled or roasted foods, especially small dishes known as meze. Although it can be served neat, a diluted raki is a common and traditional way to enjoy it. In English, the word is used both for the drink as a general category and for a glass or serving of it. The name is especially common in connection with Turkish raki, while related anise spirits in the region may be called arak or have other local names.
nounRaki is a clear, anise-flavored alcoholic drink traditionally produced in Turkey and the Balkans. It is usually served diluted with water and accompanied by food.
- A clear, anise-flavored alcoholic drink from Turkey and the Balkans.
- A measure or serving of this drink.
"They shared a bottle of raki with grilled fish and a table of mezes."
"He ordered a glass of raki with his dinner."
"The traditional meal ended with raki and small plates of meze."
Usually treated as a mass noun when referring to the drink in general; a serving can be counted as a raki, with plural rakies used when several servings are meant.
"The group ordered three rakies with the meal."
Raki is the Balkan and Turkish answer to anise-flavored spirits: sharp, fragrant, and traditionally shared with food rather than drunk as a simple shot.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does raki come from?
The English word raki comes from Turkish rakı, the name of an anise-flavored distilled spirit. The Turkish form is related to Arabic arak, a term for a family of strongly anise-flavored drinks that developed across parts of the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and the Balkans. Many Balkan languages adopted their own forms of the name, including rakija in Serbian and related South Slavic varieties. The English borrowing is most closely associated with Turkish usage.
How raki is actually used
Raki is commonly associated with Turkey and the Balkans, although the term is used somewhat differently across the region. In English, it can refer both to the drink generally and to an individual serving. The word is usually pronounced with a stress on the first syllable.
Easily confused with raki
Arak is a broader category of anise-flavored distilled spirits, while raki usually refers to the Turkish and Balkan style commonly called raki.