tzatziki

American  

[tsah-tsee-kee] / tsɑˈtsi ki /

noun

1. a condiment or dip consisting of yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and usually mint.

---

tzatziki British  

/ tsætˈsɪkɪ /

noun

1. a Greek dip made from yogurt, chopped cucumber, and mint

---

Etymology

Origin of tzatziki

1960–65; < Modern Greek tzatzíki from Turkish cacık, of uncertain origin

Explanation

Tzatziki is a tangy Greek dip that's made with yogurt. In a restaurant, tzatziki is often served with pita bread as an appetizer or side dish. The ingredients of tzatziki vary, but they always include strained yogurt (in Greece, it's usually yogurt made from the milk of sheep or goats). Cucumbers, garlic, various herbs, olive oil, and salt are added for flavor, and sometimes lemon juice or vinegar. Variations on this tasty dip exist in the cuisines of Turkey, Cyprus, the Balkans, and parts of the Middle East.

Example Sentences

And don’t stop at dressings, you can add it to other sauces and dips too like chimichurri, tzatziki, tahini, pesto; the possibilities are endless.

From Salon • May 28, 2026

We watch as a party scene involving limbo dancing, is filmed from every angle, as Bryn downs shots and Nessa gives Smithy a lesson in how to eat the Greek yogurt dish, tzatziki.

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2024

Souvlaki wouldn’t be complete without tzatziki, a cooling cucumber-yogurt condiment.

From Washington Times • Oct. 9, 2023

Each kebab platter comes with a copious amount of basmati rice along with pita bread, tzatziki sauce and a Greek salad.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 17, 2023

The refrigerator door swung open and out poured tubs of hummus and tzatziki sauce.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda