satay

American  

[sah-tay] / 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

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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

Hot and dry noodles with seafood, Beijing crêpes filled with satay beef, Sichuan pancakes stuffed with char siu pork.

From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026

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

“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

Saliama Specialties has been a popular hangout for the Muslim community, serving “Halal Pan-Asian Street Food” with Vietnamese and Malaysian fare such as banh mi, chicken satay and a “vegan ham” made from tofu skin.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 8, 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

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