yogurt

American  

[yoh-gert] / ˈyoʊ gərt /

Or yoghurt

noun

1. a tart, custardlike food made from milk curdled by the action of bacterial cultures, sometimes sweetened or flavored.

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yogurt British  

/ ˈjɒɡ-, ˈjəʊɡət /

noun

1. a thick custard-like food prepared from milk that has been curdled by bacteria, often sweetened and flavoured with fruit, chocolate, etc

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Etymology

Origin of yogurt

First recorded in 1615–25; from Turkish yoğurt

Explanation

Yogurt is a creamy, slightly sour food that many people like to eat for breakfast. Frozen yogurt also makes a delicious dessert — especially with plenty of chocolate sprinkles. Yogurt is basically fermented milk, made thick and creamy by lactic acid and bacteria — it may not sound very appetizing described that way, but yogurt is a tasty food made even more delectable by the addition of sweeteners and fruit, or in savory dishes by salt and spices. And yogurt is good for you, adding healthy bacteria to your digestive system. The word comes from the Turkish yoǧurt, from a root meaning "condense."

Example Sentences

We ate the yogurt and called it an early night.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

I like to eat right away, and I eat the same two things every day: either yogurt with frozen berries, or there’s this overnight oats called Mush.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

Your skin is slightly shining from perspiration, but you barely feel the heat because you get to enjoy the cold deliciousness of a frozen yogurt pop.

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026

Greek yogurt is one of the few ingredients that has matched my energy in the kitchen: constantly improvising, making it work with what I got, and never letting things go to waste.

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026

The yogurt raisin I’m saving for this afternoon is white, at least on the outside.

From "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate