delikatesa

Delikatesa is a term used in several Central and Eastern European languages to denote either a delicacy—an item of high-quality prepared food—or a delicatessen shop that sells such foods. The word is borrowed from the German Delikatesse (delicatessen) and has cognates in Polish, Czech, Slovak, Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, Slovenian, and Russian-derived varieties.

In practice, meanings vary by country. In many languages, a form of the word refers to the shop or department that offers ready-to-eat meals, cheeses, cold cuts, pâtés, and other specialty foods, often with imported items. In others, it designates a product category—a delicacy considered worthy of special attention. The concept originated in 19th-century Europe, with specialty shops selling curated selections of high-quality foods; in English-speaking contexts these shops are called delicatessens.

Today, delikatesa remains common in everyday language as either a generic term for gourmet foods or as the name of a retail outlet. Some languages prefer the plural "delikatesy" to refer to such stores, while others use the singular to describe one item or the store as a whole. The exact usage depends on regional tradition, commercial practices, and the influence of foreign languages.

See also: Delicatessen, Delicacy, Gourmet food.