noun

tortilla

taw-TEE-yuh

Tortilla (noun) means a thin, round flatbread made from corn or wheat flour, popular in Mexican cooking and used to wrap fillings. Example: “He wrapped the grilled chicken in a warm tortilla.”

noun

A thin, round flatbread made from corn or wheat flour, popular in Mexican cooking and used to wrap fillings.

"He wrapped the grilled chicken in a warm tortilla."

"We bought a pack of flour tortillas for the tacos."

In Spain, a thick omelette made with potatoes and onions.

"The tapas bar served a slice of tortilla with every order."

How to use tortilla

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA flatbread wrap (Mexican-style) or a potato omelette (Spanish-style) — same word, two very different dishes depending on the country.

UK vs US

In the US and most English-speaking countries, "tortilla" almost always means the Mexican flatbread; the Spanish potato omelette is a lesser-known second sense.

Word forms

tortillas plural

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Fill the gap

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He wrapped the grilled chicken in a warm _____.

Etymology

Borrowed directly from Spanish, where it originally meant "little cake."

Origin: Spanish

Rhymes for tortilla

villa Cilla milla Willa Silla vanilla gorilla Camilla Sevilla Marilla Lucilla Padilla

See all rhymes for tortilla →

Frequently asked questions

What does “tortilla” mean?

The word “tortilla” means a thin, round flatbread made from corn or wheat flour, popular in Mexican cooking and used to wrap fillings. In plain terms, a flatbread wrap (Mexican-style) or a potato omelette (Spanish-style) — same word, two very different dishes depending on the country.

How do you pronounce “tortilla”?

“Tortilla” is pronounced taw-TEE-yuh (/tɔɹˈti.ə/ in IPA).

How do you use “tortilla” in a sentence?

Here is “tortilla” used in a sentence: “He wrapped the grilled chicken in a warm tortilla.”

What part of speech is “tortilla”?

“Tortilla” is a noun.

Where does the word “tortilla” come from?

The word “tortilla” comes from Spanish. Borrowed directly from Spanish, where it originally meant "little cake.".

How many meanings does “tortilla” have?

“Tortilla” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thin, round flatbread made from corn or wheat flour, popular in Mexican cooking and used to wrap fillings.