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Definition of ube
ube
/ˈuː.beɪ/
u · be
Plural:ubes
ube Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
8
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A sweet paste, powder, or flavoring made from the purple yam, widely used to flavor and color desserts such as cakes, ice cream, and pastries.
Example
"The ice cream shop introduced a new summer flavor featuring toasted coconut and sweet ube."
2
A purple yam native to the Philippines, characterized by its vibrant violet color, starchy texture, and sweet, mildly nutty flavor.
Example
"She mashed the boiled ube to prepare a traditional Filipino holiday dessert."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for ubeWord Nuance & Usage
Often confused with taro in culinary contexts; while both are root vegetables used in Asian desserts, ube is distinctively sweeter with a brighter purple hue and vanilla-like flavor.
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Tagalog 'ubi', referring to the purple yam (Dioscorea alata), which is native to the Philippines.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ube. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ube