satay

American  

[sah-tey] / sɑˈteɪ /

Or saté,

noun

1. a Southeast Asian, especially Indonesian and Malaysian, dish of marinated, bite-size pieces of meat, skewered, barbecued, and usually served with a peanut-flavored dipping sauce.

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satay British  

/ ˈsæteɪ /

noun

1. barbecued spiced meat cooked on skewers usually made from the stems of coconut leaves

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Etymology

Origin of satay

First recorded in 1930–35, satay is from the Malay word satay, sate

Explanation

Satay is a Southeast Asian skewered meat dish. If you order satay in a restaurant, it usually comes with a peanut dipping sauce. Satay comes from Indonesia, but it's also very common in countries including Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Pieces of seasoned chicken, goat, other meats, or tofu are skewered and grilled over a fire and served with a sauce. Satay is a popular street food all over Southeast Asia. The word satay is from the Malay or Javanese satai and a Tamil root word meaning "flesh or meat."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

satay

The woman's youngest daughter, Luriyanti Putri, told investigators the alleged victim had reported receiving a delivery of chicken satay from an unknown person the day before her body was discovered.

From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026

The inconsistent food comes from Wild Ginger next door: We had very tasty Sichuan green beans and Singapore beef satay, underwhelming pot stickers and a pretty sad, bland cabbage salad.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 12, 2024

“They give you this satay plate that’s like a mountain of rice and a bunch of chicken satay,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2023

The key to really good chicken satay is the char, which is responsible for both the texture and flavor of the meat.

From Salon ● Apr. 30, 2022

This recipe, for sate daging, or soy and ginger satay, was a signature dish of her father who was jokingly known as “the barbecue king.”

From Washington Post ● Sep. 9, 2021