gumbo
UK: ˈɡʌmbəʊ | US: ˈɡʌmboʊ
n. 1. A thick soup or stew originating from Louisiana, typically made with okra, meat or seafood, and vegetables.
n. 2. The okra plant or its pods, used as a thickening agent in cooking.
n. 3. (Informal) A mixture or blend of diverse elements.
The word "gumbo" traces its roots to the Bantu languages of West Africa, specifically the word ki-ngombo (meaning "okra"). Enslaved Africans brought the term and the culinary use of okra to the Southern United States, where it became central to Louisiana Creole cuisine. Over time, "gumbo" expanded to denote the dish itself, which often includes okra as a key ingredient. The suffix "-bo" may reflect colloquial adaptation in English or Creole dialects. The word’s evolution mirrors the cultural fusion of African, French, and Native American influences in Louisiana.
She prepared a spicy gumbo with shrimp, sausage, and okra for dinner.
Gumbo is a staple dish during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans.
The chef added extra gumbo filé (ground sassafras leaves) for flavor.
His storytelling was a gumbo of humor, history, and personal anecdotes.
The garden’s gumbo plants yielded plenty of okra pods this summer.