noun
tapas
TA-pas
Tapas (noun) means Small Spanish savoury dishes served as snacks or appetisers, often shared among a group. Example: “We ordered a selection of tapas to share at the bar.”
noun
1
Small Spanish savoury dishes served as snacks or appetisers, often shared among a group.
"We ordered a selection of tapas to share at the bar."
How to use tapas
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSmall Spanish-style shared plates, typically eaten with drinks.
Common pairings
tapas bar
order tapas
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Word forms
- Singular
- tapa
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We ordered a selection of _____ to share at the bar.
Etymology
From Spanish tapas, plural of tapa ("lid, cover"), from the old custom of covering a glass of wine with a small plate of food.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “tapas” mean?
The word “tapas” means small Spanish savoury dishes served as snacks or appetisers, often shared among a group. In plain terms, small Spanish-style shared plates, typically eaten with drinks.
How do you pronounce “tapas”?
“Tapas” is pronounced TA-pas (/ˈtæpəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “tapas” in a sentence?
Here is “tapas” used in a sentence: “We ordered a selection of tapas to share at the bar.”
What part of speech is “tapas”?
“Tapas” is a noun.
Where does the word “tapas” come from?
The word “tapas” comes from Spanish. From Spanish tapas, plural of tapa ("lid, cover"), from the old custom of covering a glass of wine with a small plate of food.
