Spanish word

taco

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtako/

Meaning

  • masculine nountaco

Example

¿Quieres un taco?

Do you want a taco?

Illustration for taco (taco)

More examples

Me gusta mucho el taco al pastor.

I really like the taco al pastor.

Core concept

Single-serving folded or rolled tortilla filled with savory ingredients.

Common phrases

  • taco al pastor

    taco al pastor

  • un taco

    a taco

  • pedir un taco

    order a taco

Similar words

burrito: Large flour tortilla wrapped around beans, meat, and other fillings, eaten as a handheld wrap.
tortilla: Flat round unleavened bread made from corn or wheat masa, used as a base for fillings and dishes.
tostada: Crisped flat tortilla topped with various ingredients and eaten open-faced.
taquito: Small rolled tortilla filled and fried until crispy, served as a bite-sized snack.

Definition in Spanish

Tortilla doblada o enrollada que contiene relleno y se sirve como porción individual, originaria de México.

Word origin

Spanish taco derives from Nahuatl tlahco 'in the middle', originally naming the practice of placing the filling in the center of a tortilla before the term entered Spanish.

Usage tips

  • In parts of Spain and some formal contexts, taco also denotes a swear word, so surrounding context determines whether the word refers to the food.

Word lists with this word