Yiddish edit

 
Latkes with apple sauce

Pronunciation edit

Etymology 1 edit

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

Noun edit

לאַטקע (latkef, 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 edit
  • English: latke

Etymology 2 edit

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

Alternative forms edit

Noun edit

לאַטקע (latkef, plural לאַטקעס (latkes)

  1. Diminutive of לאַטע (late): small patch

References edit