paprika

American  

[pa-pree-kuh, puh-, pah-, pap-ri-kuh] / pæˈpri kə, pə-, pɑ-, ˈpæp rɪ kə /

noun

paprikas plural

1. a red, powdery condiment derived from dried, ripe sweet peppers.

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adjective

1. cooked or seasoned with paprika.

paprika British  

/ ˈpæprɪkə, pæˈpriː- /

noun

1. a mild powdered seasoning made from a sweet variety of red pepper

2. the fruit or plant from which this seasoning is obtained

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• paprikas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of paprika

First recorded in 1895–1900; from Hungarian, from Serbo-Croatian pàprika “pepper, paprika,” derivative of pȁpar “ground pepper,” from unattested Slavic pĭprŭ, pĭprĭ (compare Old Church Slavonic pĭprŭ, Slovenian péper, Czech pepř, Polish pieprz ), ultimately from Latin piper pepper

Explanation

Paprika is a bright red spice that's made from dried bell peppers. If you've ever tasted Hungarian goulash, you're familiar with the flavor of paprika. While it's common to associate paprika with Hungarian and other Eastern European cuisines, it's actually used all over the world. You'll find paprika flavoring Spanish dishes like gambas al ajillo (shrimp with garlic), Moroccan lentils, and even sprinkled on top of deviled eggs at a North American picnic. Paprika is a Hungarian word from a Latin root, piper, or "pepper."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

paprika paprikas

From there, the whole thing gets nudged further into depth with oregano, paprika and, perhaps unexpectedly, soy sauce.

From Salon ● May 19, 2026

Indeed, there’s shakshuka: a popular North African and Middle Eastern dish that’s essentially eggs poached in a simmering tomato sauce spiced with cumin, paprika and cayenne pepper.

From Salon ● Apr. 6, 2026

I made my request: an overloaded omelet stuffed with every possible vegetable and cheese, and seasoned with smoked paprika, chili powder, salt and pepper.

From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2026

You could, of course, build this blend from individual jars — thyme, oregano, paprika, cayenne — but these pantry workhorses are weeknight shortcuts to complexity.

From Salon ● Feb. 24, 2026

“The paprika can be delivered last,” she thought.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Add 1 ½ teaspoons Cajun seasoning and both paprikas to the sausage fat.

From Salon ● Apr. 7, 2026

Add the tomato paste, both paprikas and the rosemary; raise the heat to medium-high; and stir until the tomato paste begins to stick to the bottom of the pan, 3 to 4 minutes.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 26, 2023

That’s as true when peppers are fresh as when they are dried and ground, which opens up a whole other world of paprikas, from sweet to hot to smoked.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 8, 2016

It offers tastings of all its products, including Molnar and Hodi paprikas.

From New York Times ● Oct. 17, 2014

Compared with her these envying lady copy cats were as pale paprikas are to the real tabasco.

From Sundry Accounts by Cobb, Irvin S. (Irvin Shrewsbury)