What does yoghourt mean?
Yoghourt is a noun for a thick, semisolid dairy food made by fermenting milk with bacterial cultures. It is eaten alone or added to cereals, fruit, sauces, and many recipes. The word is an older British spelling variant of yoghurt, while yogurt is the usual spelling in American English; all three refer to the same basic food. Despite its dated appearance in spelling, yoghourt may suggest a more traditional or British presentation, though spelling alone does not guarantee that impression. Its precise texture and flavour depend on the milk, cultures, and production method, and products sold as Greek yoghurt are typically thicker and strained. Yogurt is also used in drinks, dips, and toppings, and the term now carries a broad range of commercial products beyond traditional plain yoghurt. It remains a useful word for recognizing an established spelling and the wider family of forms derived from Turkish yoğurt.
nounA thick, semisolid dairy food made by fermenting milk with bacterial cultures. It may be eaten plain or combined with fruit, cereals, sweeteners, and other ingredients.
- A thick, semisolid dairy food made by fermenting milk with bacterial cultures.
"A drizzle of honey turned the plain yoghourt into a simple breakfast."
"A drizzle of honey turned the plain yoghourt into a simple breakfast."
"At the café, she ordered a fruit yoghourt and a cup of black coffee."
Countable when referring to individual servings or varieties, but often treated as a mass noun when referring to the food generally.
"The café offers several individual yoghurts with different fruit toppings."
Yoghourt preserves an older British spelling of a word that entered English from Turkish and became a global symbol of creamy, cultured milk.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of yoghourt
Yoghourt entered English in the early 17th century from Turkish yoğurt. The Turkish word is related to yoğur-, meaning "to knead," reflecting the process by which milk is thickened. Its English relatives include the standard spellings yoghurt and yogurt and the older variant yogourt.
How yoghourt is actually used
Yoghourt is a less common, somewhat old-fashioned British spelling of yoghurt. Current British English normally uses yoghurt, while American English generally uses yogurt. The older spelling may suggest a traditional or British presentation, although spelling alone does not determine the product's character.
Easily confused with yoghourt
Yoghourt is a less common, somewhat old-fashioned British spelling of the standard British spelling yoghurt.
Yogurt is the usual American spelling, whereas yoghourt is a variant spelling found chiefly in British usage.