Cooking Terms

Soba is a type of thin Japanese buckwheat noodle, commonly served hot in broth or cold with dipping sauce. While the word itself is native to Japanese cuisine, it has become familiar worldwide through dining menus and cooking shows. In pronunciation, it is typically spoken with two syllables: SO-ba, with the emphasis on the first syllable in English usage.

Stock refers to a supply or reserve of goods or resources, a company’s capital in finance, or the belief in a particular measure of performance. It can denote the merchandise kept on hand for sale, the shares of a company, or a typical or traditional supply. In everyday use, it implies something kept ready for use or distribution, often with an economic or managerial context.

Tart is a short, single-syllable adjective or noun referring to a sharp, sour taste or to something sharp in tone or remark. It can describe flavors, personalities, or remarks that are biting or piquant. It also appears in phrases like tart pastry, tart opinion, or tart comment, conveying a vivid, biting quality without softness or sweetness.

Temper means to moderate or soften something, especially a feeling or reaction, by balance or restraint. It can also refer to tempering metal, a controlled process that increases toughness. In everyday use it describes regulating intensity, mood, or tone, often to suit a situation. The noun temper denotes a person’s characteristic mood or temperament. (2-4 sentences, ~60 words)

Tomatillo is a small, greenish husked fruit, often used in Mexican cuisine. The name also refers to the plant that bears the fruit. It has a bright, tart flavor and a papery husk that peels back to reveal the glossy fruit. In culinary contexts it’s typically spoken with Spanish-influenced stress and pronunciation.

Umami refers to the fifth basic taste, described as savory or meaty. It denotes a rich, brothy mouthfeel produced by glutamates and certain nucleotides. In sensory terms, it complements sweet, sour, salty, and bitter, expanding flavor beyond these four categories.

Vin is a short, monosyllabic word often realized with a vowel-like nucleus and a nasal or approximant near-close vowel quality, depending on language context. In English contexts, it can function as a proper name or finite form, but the core sound is typically a very short, closed-front vowel with a following consonant closure. The term invites close attention to vowel quality, tongue position, and any language-specific nasal or liquid influences in production.

Yakitori is a Japanese dish of skewered, grilled chicken, typically seasoned with tare sauce or salt. The term also refers to the skewers themselves. In pronunciation, it’s borrowed into English with Japanese phonology preserved, often heard in casual restaurant talk and recipe contexts. The word, used as a loanword, carries a light, clipped Japanese rhythm within English speech.