Word
anchovy
Phoneticsan·chovy
US/ˈænˌtʃoʊvi/
UK/ˈæntʃɒvi/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a very small fish with a strong salty taste. You often eat it on pizza or mixed into sauces.
n. a small marine fish of the family Engraulidae, typically preserved in salt or oil for its intense savoury flavour. Widely used as a flavouring in Mediterranean cooking, especially on pizza and in sauces and dressings.
Examples
“I add chopped anchovy to the pizza sauce.”
“She adds extra anchovy to her salad for a salty kick.”
“Though divisive among diners, anchovy melts into the dressing, lending a deep savoury note without tasting overtly fishy.”
Examples
simple
“I add chopped anchovy to the pizza sauce.”
contextual
“She adds extra anchovy to her salad for a salty kick.”
complex
“Though divisive among diners, anchovy melts into the dressing, lending a deep savoury note without tasting overtly fishy.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “anchovy” in context.
Verb
01. add anchovy
“Add chopped anchovy to the dressing for a deeper umami taste.”
verb + noun
02. anchovy dissolves
“The anchovy dissolves completely into the hot olive oil.”
noun + verb
03. anchovy melts
“The anchovy melts into the sauce and you hardly see it.”
noun + verb
04. chop anchovy
“Chop the anchovy finely before stirring it into the sauce.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. canned anchovy
“She added canned anchovies to the salad for extra saltiness.”
adj + noun
06. dried anchovy
“Dried anchovies are often used to make stock in Korean cooking.”
adj + noun
07. fresh anchovy
“Fresh anchovies are lightly fried and served with lemon in coastal towns.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. anchovy paste
“A little anchovy paste adds depth to soups and stews.”
noun + noun
09. fillet of anchovy
“She placed a fillet of anchovy on each piece of bruschetta.”
noun + prep + noun
10. a fillet of anchovy
“Add a fillet of anchovy to each sandwich for a salty kick.”
11. a tin of anchovies
“I always keep a tin of anchovies for quick pasta sauces.”
12. dissolve anchovies in oil
“Dissolve the anchovies in warm olive oil over low heat.”
Real-World Examples
“When Pseudo-nitzschia blooms surge, domoic acid bioaccumulates up the food chain, accumulating first in filter-feeding shellfish, anchovies and sardines, and subsequently poisoning higher-level predators.” “Anchovies are an unlikely bellwether for a building climatic event, but their disappearance from the coast of South America is heralding one of the biggest El Ninos in living memory.” “Peru, the world's largest anchovy catcher, was facing a devastating blow from warming seas that had gutted production, according to industry officials.” “Try it: In a chile-flecked crudo with crisp white onion, anchovy, and avocado.” Etymology
From Spanish anchoa, from Genoese Ligurian anciôa or related Corsican anchjuva, anciua. The term's ultimate origin is unclear; some suggest it may have derived from an unattested Vulgar Latin term *apiuva, from Latin aphyē, apua, from Ancient Greek ἀφύη (aphúē) (which may be formed like Sanskrit अभ्व (ábhva-, “monster”)); others suggest it comes from Basque antxu, anchu (“dried fish”), from anchuva (“dry”), if that Basque term is not itself derived from Latin via some intermediary. None of these hypotheses is satisfactory because of the phonetic irregularities.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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