A delicatessen (often shortened to deli) is a store that sells prepared foods, especially meats, cheeses, salads, and sandwiches. The word comes from German, where it originally meant “delicacies” or special, high-quality foods.

Walk into a delicatessen and you'll typically find a counter where workers slice fresh meat and cheese to order. You might buy sliced turkey for sandwiches, potato salad for a picnic, or a whole sandwich made right there. Many delis also sell pickles, olives, bread, and other foods that go well together for a meal.

Delicatessens became popular in American cities in the late 1800s, especially in neighborhoods with many Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. These communities helped popularize deli foods like pastrami, corned beef, and bagels with cream cheese and lox (smoked salmon). Classic New York delis still serve towering sandwiches piled high with meat.

Today, the word deli can mean different things depending on where you are. Some are small specialty shops focusing on high-quality prepared foods. Others are just the counter in a grocery store where they slice meat and cheese. But the core idea remains: a place to get prepared foods, often made fresh that day, ready to take home and eat.