Noun
/tako/
In Spanish, "taco" primarily refers to a traditional Mexican dish consisting of a folded or rolled tortilla filled with various ingredients, such as meat, beans, cheese, and vegetables. It is widely recognized and consumed not only in Mexico but also in various parts of the world, especially in places with Mexican influence, such as the United States and Central America.
The word "taco" has a high frequency of use in both oral and written contexts, especially within culinary discussions, cultural references, and everyday conversation about food.
In a colloquial or slang context, particularly in some regions such as Spain, "taco" can also refer to an idiot or a fool, deriving from its use in idiomatic expressions.
Voy a cenar unos tacos de carne asada esta noche.
I’m going to have some steak tacos for dinner tonight.
El restaurante sirve los mejores tacos de pescado de la ciudad.
The restaurant serves the best fish tacos in the city.
En la fiesta, todos disfrutamos de los tacos que trajo Juan.
At the party, we all enjoyed the tacos that Juan brought.
The word "taco" appears in several idiomatic expressions, particularly in colloquial language. Here are a few examples:
¡No seas taco!
(Don't be a fool!)
Echar un taco de ojo.
(To take a quick look, often at something attractive.)
Example: "El nuevo coche de Juan es impresionante, le eché un taco de ojo mientras pasaba."
"Juan's new car is amazing, I took a quick look at it as I walked by."
Ser un taco.
(To be a heavy burden or a nuisance.)
Example: "Ese problema en el trabajo se ha vuelto un taco que nadie quiere resolver."
"That problem at work has become a burden that no one wants to deal with."
Taco de lengua.
(A slip of the tongue.)
Example: "Me salió un taco de lengua y dije su nombre en lugar del mío."
"I had a slip of the tongue and said his name instead of mine."
The word "taco" comes from the Nahuatl word "tlahco," which means "half" or "in the middle," referencing the way a taco is typically folded. The term was adapted into Spanish and has become widely used, especially in the culinary context.
Synonyms: - Tortilla (in the context of the base item, though it’s not exactly the same) - Bocadillo (in some contexts, though this refers to sandwiches)
Antonyms: - There is no direct antonym, as "taco" is a specific culinary term. However, within the slang context referring to a fool, synonyms would cover similar terms such as "tonto" or "idiota."