ceviche

American  

[suh-vee-chey, ‑chee] / səˈvi tʃeɪ, ‑tʃi /

Or seviche

noun

1. an appetizer of small pieces of raw fish marinated in lime or lemon juice, often with onions, peppers, and spices.

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Usage

What is ceviche? Ceviche is an appetizer dish consisting of raw fish marinated in citrus juice and including ingredients like peppers, onions, and spices.Popular in South America, ceviche generally features chunked fish marinated in lime juice served with sliced white or red onions and chilies. Sea bass, tuna, and shrimp are common choices for the fish, while lemon or bitter orange juice may be used instead of lime. You may even find vegetarian ceviche, with vegetables like mushrooms or artichokes used instead of fish. As long as the base for the dish is served cold and features citrus curing, it could be referred to as a type of ceviche.Ceviche is also spelled seviche.Example: The restaurant offered Sofia and Carlos complementary scallop ceviche because it was their anniversary.

Etymology

Origin of ceviche

First recorded in 1950–55; from Latin American Spanish (Peru, Ecuador, etc.) cebiche, ceviche, seviche, possibly a derivative of Spanish cebo “fodder, fish pieces used for bait,” from Latin cibus “food”; possibly from Spanish Arabic assukkabāj, from Arabic sikbāj “meat cooked in vinegar,” from unrecorded Middle Persian sikbāg (equivalent to sik “vinegar”+ bāg “food, broth”)

Example Sentences

Instead of damaging the coral reefs, these mohawked creatures end up on a plate later that day in ceviche or sashimi form.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026

His partner made him his favorite dish, shrimp ceviche.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 20, 2025

Chef Gilberto Cetina Jr. and his brigade of talented line cooks make an uni-topped ceviche tostada that make the finest caviar blinis seem like Cheese Whiz on Ritz crackers.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2025

Furthermore, there's also dishes that must be served cold — like, icy cold: ceviche, poke, crudo, raw oysters, clams on the half-shell and the like.

From Salon • May 30, 2025

He nearly spilled his ceviche all over himself.

From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya