Standard Lemma guide

zaatar

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈzɑːtɑː/
  • US: /ˈzɑtɑɹ/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A particular herb, similar in flavor to thyme or oregano, used in Middle Eastern cuisine (Origanum syriacum).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A Middle Eastern seasoning, having this herb or a mixture of herbs as the main ingredient, with sumac (or other tart-flavored equivalent) and sesame seeds.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Arabic زَعْتَر (zaʕtar), صَعْتَر (ṣaʕtar, “wild thyme; condiment made from this herb”), probably from Classical Syriac ܨܬܪܐ (ṣāṯrā), related to Hebrew צַתְרָה (ṣátrā).

Across languages

Translations

28 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: زَعْتَر نَابُلْسِيّ (zaʕtar nābulsiyy) — herb
  • Aramaic: ܡܲܪܘܵܐ — herb
  • Aramaic: מַרְוָא (marwā) — herb
  • Aramaic: ܨܬܪܐ (ṣāṯrā) — herb
  • Hebrew: זַעְתַּר (zá'tar) — herb
  • Hebrew: אֵזוֹב (ezóv) — herb
  • Sicilian: satra — herb
  • Spanish: za'atar — herb
  • Spanish: zaatar — herb
  • Spanish: zatar — herb
  • Spanish: zahatar — herb
  • Turkish: zahter — herb
  • Arabic: خُلْطَة زَعْتَر نَابُلْسِيّ (ḵulṭat zaʕtar nābulsiyy) — seasoning
  • Arabic: زَعْتَر نَابُلْسِيّ (zaʕtar nābulsiyy) — seasoning
  • Aramaic: ܨܬܪܐ (ṣāṯrā) — seasoning
  • French: zaatar — seasoning
  • Hebrew: זַעְתַּר (zá'tar) — seasoning
  • Japanese: ザアタル (zaataru) — seasoning
  • Japanese: ザータル (zātaru) — seasoning
  • Polish: zatar — seasoning
  • Russian: за́атар (záatar) — seasoning
  • Russian: за́тар (zátar) — seasoning
  • Sicilian: satra — seasoning
  • Spanish: za'atar — seasoning
  • Spanish: zaatar — seasoning
  • Spanish: zatar — seasoning
  • Spanish: zahatar — seasoning
  • Turkish: zahter — seasoning