The word u003cemu003echapatu003c/emu003e (चपत) in Hindi means u0022flatu0022 or u0022slapu0022. Flat comes from the bread's flat shape and slap from how it was made originally. Authentic chapati was traditionally made by taking wet hands and rotating the bread with each slap. Chapati is a staple food throughout South Asia, East Africa, and the many places around the world that north Indians have travelled and brought their culinary traditions.