tamale
1 synonym for tamale, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A Mexican dish made of masa dough filled with meat or other ingredients, wrapped in a corn husk, and steamed.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
tamal
Etymology
A back-formation from the Spanish plural tamales, from Nahuatl tamalli, meaning "wrapped."
Full origin of tamale →Frequently asked questions
What does “tamale” mean?
The word “tamale” means a Mexican dish made of masa dough filled with meat or other ingredients, wrapped in a corn husk, and steamed. In plain terms, a steamed corn-dough dish wrapped in a husk, traditional in Mexican cooking.
How do you pronounce “tamale”?
“Tamale” is pronounced tuh-MAH-lee (/təˈmɑ.li/ in IPA).
How do you use “tamale” in a sentence?
Here is “tamale” used in a sentence: “Her grandmother made tamales every Christmas.”
What part of speech is “tamale”?
“Tamale” is a noun.
Where does the word “tamale” come from?
The word “tamale” comes from Spanish. A back-formation from the Spanish plural tamales, from Nahuatl tamalli, meaning "wrapped.".
