taco

UK: ˈtæk.əʊ | US: ˈtɑː.koʊ

Definition
  1. n. a traditional Mexican dish consisting of a folded or rolled tortilla filled with various ingredients (e.g., meat, beans, cheese).

Structure

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Etymology

The word "taco" is a loanword from Mexican Spanish, derived from the Nahuatl (Aztec language) word "tlahco," meaning "half" or "in the middle." This reflects the original form of the dish—a tortilla folded around a filling. The term entered English in the early 20th century as Mexican cuisine gained popularity in the U.S.

Non-Splittable Word Criteria:

  1. Loanword from a non-Indo-European language (Nahuatl via Spanish).
  2. No clear morpheme boundaries in English or Spanish.
Examples
  1. She ordered two chicken tacos with extra salsa.

  2. Street vendors in Mexico City serve the best tacos al pastor.

  3. He prefers soft-shell tacos over crunchy ones.

  4. Taco Tuesday has become a weekly tradition at our office.

  5. The food truck specializes in fusion tacos with Korean flavors.