teff

American  

[tef] / tɛf /

noun

1. a grass, Eragrostis tef, native to the Horn of Africa, where it is cultivated for its edible seeds.

2. the edible seeds of the grass Eragrostis tef.

3. Sometimes teff flour a flour made from the edible seeds of the grass Eragrostis tef, used especially in the cuisine of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

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Etymology

Origin of teff

First recorded in 1780–90; from Amharic t’ef; compare Geez t’ah’əf, t’ayəf

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

teff

The latest to have its moment in the spotlight is an ancient Ethiopian grain called teff.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Starters can be made with wheat, rye, barley, teff, millet, or other grains, each supplying a distinct set of nutrients that microbes depend on to grow.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 21, 2026

At an elevation of about 2500 meters on Ethiopia’s Amhara plain, villagers conduct an ancient ritual—harvesting delicate stalks of teff by hand.

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 26, 2024

Whole grains like teff, quinoa and wheat are great sources of protein.

From Salon ● Mar. 27, 2023

The bread made from it is called teff, and is the ordinary food of the country, that made from wheat being only used by the higher classes.

From The Commercial Products of the Vegetable Kingdom Considered in Their Various Uses to Man and in Their Relation to the Arts and Manufactures; Forming a Practical Treatise & Handbook of Reference for the Colonist, Manufacturer, Merchant, and Consumer, on the Cultivation, Preparation for Shipment, and Commercial Value, &c. of the Various Substances Obtained From Trees and Plants, Entering into the Husbandry of Tropical and Sub-tropical Regions, &c. by P. L. Simmonds

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