English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

pastrami

pa-STRAH-mee
Quiz me More like this

Pastrami (noun) means a heavily seasoned, smoked cut of beef, usually sliced thin for sandwiches. Example: “He ordered a pastrami sandwich piled high on rye bread.”

noun
1
A heavily seasoned, smoked cut of beef, usually sliced thin for sandwiches.
"He ordered a pastrami sandwich piled high on rye bread."

How to use pastrami

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSpiced, smoked, thinly-sliced beef, famous in deli sandwiches like the classic New York pastrami on rye.

Common pairings
pastrami sandwich pastrami on rye
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like pastrami.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
pastramis
Test yourself on “pastrami” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He ordered a _____ sandwich piled high on rye bread.

Etymology

From Yiddish pastrame, tracing back through Romanian pastramă to Turkish pastırma, "pressed meat" — the English "-i" ending likely came from the influence of "salami."

Origin: Romanian

Rhymes for pastrami

See all rhymes for pastrami →

Frequently asked questions

What does “pastrami” mean?
The word “pastrami” means a heavily seasoned, smoked cut of beef, usually sliced thin for sandwiches. In plain terms, spiced, smoked, thinly-sliced beef, famous in deli sandwiches like the classic New York pastrami on rye.
How do you pronounce “pastrami”?
“Pastrami” is pronounced pa-STRAH-mee (/pəˈstɹɑːmi/ in IPA).
How do you use “pastrami” in a sentence?
Here is “pastrami” used in a sentence: “He ordered a pastrami sandwich piled high on rye bread.”
What part of speech is “pastrami”?
“Pastrami” is a noun.
Where does the word “pastrami” come from?
The word “pastrami” comes from Romanian. From Yiddish pastrame, tracing back through Romanian pastramă to Turkish pastırma, "pressed meat" — the English "-i" ending likely came from the influence of "salami.".