noun Uncommon

taco

TA-koh

Taco (noun) means a Mexican dish of a folded tortilla filled with ingredients such as meat, beans, cheese, or vegetables. Example: “We grabbed tacos from the truck outside the stadium.”

noun

A Mexican dish of a folded tortilla filled with ingredients such as meat, beans, cheese, or vegetables.

"We grabbed tacos from the truck outside the stadium."

"She piled extra salsa onto her taco."

How to use taco

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA folded or rolled tortilla filled with savory ingredients, a staple of Mexican cuisine.

Easily confused with

burrito →

Common pairings

fish taco taco truck taco night soft-shell taco

Word forms

tacoed past tense, tacos plural, tacos singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

We grabbed _____ from the truck outside the stadium.

Etymology

Borrowed from Mexican Spanish taco, whose ultimate origin is debated.

Origin: Spanish

Rhymes for taco

paco Waco Jaco draco Chaco Monaco

See all rhymes for taco →

Frequently asked questions

What does “taco” mean?

The word “taco” means a Mexican dish of a folded tortilla filled with ingredients such as meat, beans, cheese, or vegetables. In plain terms, a folded or rolled tortilla filled with savory ingredients, a staple of Mexican cuisine.

How do you pronounce “taco”?

“Taco” is pronounced TA-koh (/ˈtɑkoʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “taco” in a sentence?

Here is “taco” used in a sentence: “We grabbed tacos from the truck outside the stadium.”

What part of speech is “taco”?

“Taco” is a noun.

Where does the word “taco” come from?

The word “taco” comes from Spanish. Borrowed from Mexican Spanish taco, whose ultimate origin is debated.

Is “taco” a common word?

“Taco” is an uncommon word in modern English.

What is the difference between a taco and a burrito?

A taco uses a folded, open-ended tortilla filled with ingredients like meat, beans, cheese, or vegetables, while a burrito uses a larger tortilla that is fully wrapped and sealed around the filling. Tacos are typically eaten with the hands and are smaller and less enclosed than burritos.

What kind of tortilla is used for a taco?

Tacos can be made with either a soft corn or flour tortilla or a crisp fried corn shell, depending on the style. The tortilla is folded around the filling rather than rolled closed.

Is taco a Spanish word?

Yes, taco comes from Mexican Spanish and refers to the folded tortilla dish itself. The word is now used in English to describe the same style of filled tortilla.

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