borscht

American  

[bawrsht] / bɔrʃt /

Also borsch

noun

1. any of various eastern European soups made with beets, cabbage, potatoes, or other vegetables and served hot or chilled, often with sour cream.

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borscht British  

/ bɔːʃt, bɔːʃtʃ, bɔːʃ /

noun

1. a Russian and Polish soup based on beetroot

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Etymology

Origin of borscht

1880–85; < Yiddish borsht; compare Ukrainian, Byelorussian, Russian borshch soup with red beets as ingredient; or directly < East Slavic

Explanation

Borscht is a sour soup that's common in Eastern Europe. Most borscht is made with beets and is bright red. If you love Russian cuisine, you'll say "da" to a bowl of borscht. The beet-flavored borscht that most Americans are familiar with comes from Ukraine, and is traditionally served with sour cream. There are many variations, including a cold borscht and borscht made from different meats and vegetables. In Russia, Poland, and other Eastern European countries, borscht simply means "sour soup," and the word comes from the Russian borshch, "cow parsnip."

Example Sentences

Grocery stores sell sauerkraut, borscht and blinis with cottage cheese.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2025

My father's three sisters — Jamileh, Massumeh and Atieh — introduced me to the rich flavors of Russian and Uzbek cuisines, including dishes like borscht, pirozhki and Salad Olivier.

From Salon • Sep. 15, 2024

There’s a heavy lean on traditional Ukrainian recipes passed down from Kravchuk’s mother, like classic borscht and pierogies.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 16, 2023

And yet, with a few exceptions, largely from the performance of Sutherland, who captures some of the borscht belt swagger of Freddy Krueger, it’s the last moment of arch comedy.

From New York Times • Apr. 21, 2023

They also added a recording of a woman reading a recipe for borscht.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• bouillon
• chowder
• porridge
• puree