 The word Falāfil ( Arabic : فلافل ) is the plural of Filfil ( فلفل ) , meaning " pepper " . The word itself spread and is used in other languages such as Persian pilpil ( پلپل ) , from the Sanskrit word pippalī ( पिप ् पली ) , meaning " long pepper " ; or an earlier * filfal , from Aramaic pilpāl , " small round thing , peppercorn , " derived from palpēl , " to be round , roll " . Thus in origin , falafel would be " rollers , little balls . " 
