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• roti
  roti

  noun

  any of various unleavened, usually whole wheat flatbreads common in South and Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.
• rôti
  rôti

  noun

  roast.

roti

¹ American  

[roh-tee] / ˈroʊ ti /

noun

1. any of various unleavened, usually whole wheat flatbreads common in South and Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.

2. (in the Caribbean) flatbread wrapped around a filling of usually curried meat, fish, shellfish, or vegetables.

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rôti ² American  

[roh-tee] / roʊˈti /

noun

French.

1. roast.

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roti British  

/ ˈrəʊtɪ, ˈrʊtɪ /

noun

1. (in India and the Caribbean) a type of unleavened bread

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Etymology

Origin of roti

First recorded in 1830–40; from Hindi, Urdu roṭī “bread,” from Prakrit roṭṭa “rice flour”

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Explanation

A roti is a South Asian flatbread made with whole wheat flour. The next time you order your favorite dishes from an Indian restaurant, get some roti too! In India, a roti is also known as a chapati. These tasty round breads are cooked on a flat grill or in a Tandoor oven, and they're often used to scoop up curries and vegetable dishes. Many other cuisines have a variation on the basic roti. In many Caribbean countries, the word can also refer to a popular sandwich made by wrapping a roti around a savory filling. Roti comes from the Sanskrit word roṭikā, or "bread."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

roti rôti

Dinner at Kabawa in New York’s East Village begins with “buss-up shut,” a flaky Trinidadian flatbread derived from Indian paratha roti.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026

At Laut, chef Yup serves classic dishes like nasi lemak, rendang beef, asam laksa and roti canai.

From Salon ● Nov. 15, 2025

The men are getting regular food deliveries - daal, roti, vegetables and fresh fruit - through a small pipe, and officials say the group is in good health.

From BBC ● Nov. 26, 2023

This chicken was wonderful tucked into a piece of roti with a piece of crunchy cucumber, and smothered in panang curry sauce — all of which come served alongside the dish.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 16, 2022

He sat down and quickly wrapped one of the roti and some sambal in the banana leaf.

From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook

At Chez Fifi on the Upper East Side, the poulet rôti, served by the half portion, is $78.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

Chang: My poulet rôti potato chip consumption has surprised even me, Mary, though I’ve rationalized it away as best I can.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2023

“It’s called subtlety of taste,” says Mirren after Hassan sprinkles spices on to pigeon fermier rôti aux épices douces.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 8, 2014

Thildette Chalumeau told me: Pot au feu, veal cooked in a casserole in its own juice, rabbits stewed in wine, gigot rôti, pâtisserie—and many other things.

From The Halo by B. Martin Justice

The Vicomte de B—— busied himself with reciting the menu: entrée, omelette parmentier; game, pigeon rôti; plat de résistance—pommes de terre Marseillaise; Salade, tomate—not to speak of toast and tea.

From The Note-Book of an Attaché Seven Months in the War Zone by Eric Fisher Wood

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