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Definition of callaloo
callaloo
/ˌkæləˈluː/
cal · la · loo
Plural:callaloos
callaloo Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A popular Caribbean dish, varying by region from a thick, creamy soup to a steamed vegetable side, made primarily with leafy greens, okra, and often coconut milk, crab, or salted meat.
Example
"For Sunday dinner, she prepared a rich, flavorful pot of callaloo with fresh coconut milk and blue crab."
2
Any of various leafy green vegetables, particularly amaranth or taro leaves, cultivated in the Caribbean and used extensively in local cuisine.
Example
"He spent the morning in the garden picking fresh callaloo for the evening meal."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for callaloo• Rhymes for callaloo
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Of Caribbean origin, likely derived from West African languages (such as Kikongo or Mandinka) or possibly from the Tupi word 'caaruru', entering English via the Spanish 'calalú'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Callaloo. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/callaloo