Ube Meaning: What Does Ube Mean?

Ube has gone global, but its name trips people up. Here is what ube means in English and other languages, how to say it, and where the word comes from.

What does ube mean in English?

In English, ube means purple yam. It is the Filipino (Tagalog) word for the plant Dioscorea alata, a true yam with naturally deep-purple flesh and a sweet, nutty, vanilla-like flavour. You may also see it written as ubi. It is not the same as taro or purple sweet potato, see our ube vs taro guide for the difference.

How do you pronounce ube?

Ube is pronounced OO-beh (two syllables), not "yoob" or "oob". The stress is light and even.

What is ube halaya in English?

Ube halaya means purple yam jam. "Halaya" comes from the Spanish jalea, meaning jam or jelly. So halayang ube and ube halaya both translate to purple yam jam, see the full ube halaya guide.

Ube in other languages

• Arabic: البطاطا الأرجوانية الفلبينية (the Filipino purple yam), often written simply as يوبي. Full guide: ube in Arabic.
• Urdu / Hindi: closest to purple yam (देशी अरबी / ratalu). There is no single native word, so it is usually called purple yam.
• Spanish: Ñame morado (purple yam).
• Scientific name: Dioscorea alata, also called water yam or greater yam.

Where does the word ube come from?

Ube (ubi) is the Filipino name for the yam, which is native to Southeast Asia and a staple in the Philippines. As Filipino desserts went global, the Tagalog word travelled with them, which is why English menus now say "ube" rather than "purple yam".

Now you know the word, meet the ingredient: read our full guide to what ube is, or jump into ube recipes.

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