sütlaç
/sytˈlat͡ʃ/
Rice pudding in Turkish is sütlaç.
sütlaç refers to a traditional milk pudding made from rice, milk, sugar and nutmeg.
Meaning: milk pudding made from rice, milk, sugar and nutmeg (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word sütlaç is a compound of süt (milk) and aş (a root or suffix meaning food, soup or pudding).
Which one should you use?
While sütlaç is the standard term, fırın sütlaç specifically refers to the popular version of the dish that is baked in the oven until a brown crust forms on the top.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /sytˈlatʃ/. The /s/ sound is like the [s] in [s]end and the /tʃ/ sound is like the [ch] in [ch]ange.
Did you know?
- While sütlaç is a dessert, its root word aş historically referred to any kind of cooked meal or soup, showing how the Turkish language once grouped sweets and savory grains together.
- In Turkey, sütlaç is often served in traditional handmade clay bowls called güveç, which help the pudding retain heat and create the signature burnt top in oven versions.
- A perfectly made fırın sütlaç must have a deep brown, almost charred skin on top, which is achieved by placing the bowls under a high-heat broiler.
Examples in context
- Biraz sütlaç sipariş etmek istiyorum, lütfen.I would like to order some rice pudding, please.
- Bu sütlaç çok lezzetli.This rice pudding is very delicious.
- Tatlı olarak sütlaç yemek istiyorum.I want to eat rice pudding for dessert.
- Anneannem çok güzel sütlaç yapar.My grandmother makes very good rice pudding.
Example conversation
Selin and Burak are at a dessert shop.
- SelinSütlaç denemek ister misin, Burak?Would you like to try rice pudding, Burak?
- BurakEvet, bir porsiyon sütlaç alalım.Yes, let's get one portion of rice pudding.
- SelinSütlacın üstü yanmış mı?Is the top of the rice pudding burnt?
- BurakEvet, fırın sütlaç olduğu için öyle.Yes, it is because it is baked rice pudding.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rice pudding” translations and entries sütlaç, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
