לאַטקע

Yiddish

FWOTD – 14 December 2012

Latkes with apple sauce

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɫat.kə/

Etymology 1

Most likely from Russian ла́тка (látka, “pastry, patch”) and Belarusian ла́дка (ládka, “fritter”).

Alternatively, from Ancient Greek ἐλάδιον (eládion) through a Slavic language (compare Ukrainian оладка (oladka, “Scotch pancake”)).

Noun

לאַטקע • (latke) f, plural לאַטקעס (latkes)

1. (generally) pancake
2. (specifically) latke; a potato pancake fried in oil, traditionally served on Hanukkah.
   • 1921, Workmen's Circle (U.S.). Educational Dept, קינדערלאַנד [kinderland, Kinderland], page 20:

     […] די ריחות פֿון אָפּגעבראָטענע גענז און זאַפֿטיקע לאַטקעס.

     […] di reykhes fun opgebrotene genz un zaftike latkes.

     […] the smells of fried geese and juicy latkes.

Descendants

• English: latke

Etymology 2

Same as above, but also borrowed from Polish łata, łatka, and Ukrainian ла́та (láta). By surface analysis, לאַטע (late, “patch”) +‎ ־קע (-ke).

Alternative forms

• לאַט (lat), לאַטע (late)

Noun

לאַטקע • (latke) f, plural לאַטקעס (latkes)

1. diminutive of לאַטע (late): small patch

References

• Astravux, Aljaksandar (2008) “lat”, in Idyš-bjelaruski slóŭnik [Yiddish–Belarusian Dictionary], Minsk: Mjedisónt, →ISBN, page 483
• Astravux, Aljaksandar (2008) “lat(k)e”, in Idyš-bjelaruski slóŭnik [Yiddish–Belarusian Dictionary], Minsk: Mjedisónt, →ISBN, page 483