What does whey mean?
Whey is the liquid left when milk is curdled to make cheese. When the curds are cut and drained, they become the basis of many cheeses, while the remaining watery liquid is collected as whey. Its flavor and composition vary according to the milk and the kind of cheese being made, so it can be relatively sweet, mild, or tangy. Whey is used in foods, animal feed, and the manufacture of products such as whey protein powder. In everyday English, the word is most familiar in connection with cheese-making and dairy products. It also survives in expressions such as whey-faced, where its older associations help convey paleness or an exhausted appearance. Although whey can seem like a leftover, it is a valuable product in its own right, especially when concentrated for nutritional or food-processing purposes.
nounThe thin, watery liquid that separates from milk when it is curdled during cheese-making. It may be sweet or tangy and is often used for further processing or as a dietary supplement.
- The liquid remaining after milk has been curdled and the curds removed in the making of cheese.
"The cheesemaker drained the whey and used it to make ricotta."
"The recipe called for a cup of whey, which I had never tasted before."
"During cheese-making, the whey is strained from the curds and collected separately."
The plural is uncommon in general writing but is used when referring to separate quantities or portions of whey.
"The factory processes thousands of liters of wheies each day."
Milk gets a second act: after the curds become cheese, the liquid left behind becomes whey, a useful ingredient in its own right.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does whey come from?
The word comes from Old English wæge, an old term for the liquid remaining from curdled milk. It belongs to a Germanic word family that includes Old Norse veig and Dutch wei. The modern English form continued in use as dairy terminology, while related compounds and idioms preserve some of its older associations.
Related word forms
How whey is actually used
In modern English, whey is chiefly a food and dairy-processing noun. The compound whey-faced is an established expression meaning pale or sickly-looking; whey is not normally used as a general synonym for any liquid.
Easily confused with whey
Whey is a liquid from milk, whereas a way is a method, route, or manner of doing something.