galangal

American  

[guh-lang-guhl] / gəˈlæŋ gəl /

noun

1. the aromatic rhizome of certain eastern Asian plants belonging to the genus Alpinia, of the ginger family, used medicinally and in Southeast Asian cuisine.

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galangal British  

/ ɡəˈlæŋɡəl /

noun

1. another name for galingale

2. a zingiberaceous plant, Alpinia officinarum, of China and the East Indies

3. the pungent aromatic root of this plant, dried and used as a seasoning and in medicine

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Etymology

Origin of galangal

First recorded in 1500–10, in the sense “aromatic rhizome of the genus Cyperus ”; variant spelling of galingale

Example Sentences

During the day, I was prepping and tasting healthy stuff — green beans, spinach, buchu, daikon, snow peas, garlic, galangal.

From Salon • May 23, 2025

The tom kha soup, served in a large silver bowl over a small flame, . is rich with coconut milk and bright with lemongrass, lime and galangal.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 25, 2023

And just limeade and galangal soda, no alcohol, are available, too.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 26, 2023

Traces of eight spices were found: turmeric, ginger, fingerroot, sand ginger, galangal, clove, nutmeg and cinnamon.

From Scientific American • Jul. 21, 2023

Mr. C. Ford, the director of the Botanic Garden at Hong-Kong, has identified the plant as Alpinia Galanga, the source of the greater or Java galangal root of commerce.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 795, March 28, 1891 by Various