What does tamale mean?
A tamale is a Mexican food made by wrapping a filling in masa, the dough made from ground corn, and then steaming or otherwise cooking it, often in a corn husk. Fillings can include meat, cheese, beans, or combinations of these, with seasoned versions such as chicken, beef, pork, or green corn tamales being widely enjoyed. The singular is tamale and the plural is tamales, although in everyday speech the plural form is often used for both one serving and several servings. Tamales are commonly served with salsa, rice, beans, and other Mexican dishes. The word comes into English through Mexican Spanish and ultimately from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztec and other Indigenous peoples of Mexico.
A Mexican dish in which a filling such as meat, cheese, or beans is enclosed in corn or masa dough and steamed or cooked in its wrapping.
"The restaurant serves a traditional chicken tamale with salsa verde."
The standard plural is tamales.
Informal, chiefly North American: to make tamales.
"We spent the afternoon tamaling in the kitchen."
This verb is uncommon and is mainly used in informal speech.
The standard plural of tamale is tamales; it may refer to several individual tamales or, in restaurant and food-service contexts, to the dish or food more generally.
"They brought a platter of tamales to the picnic."
A tamale turns an ancient Mesoamerican food into a parcel: seasoned filling sealed inside soft corn dough.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tamale come from?
The English word comes through Spanish from Nahuatl tamalli, the term for a food parcel made from maize dough and a filling. Spanish speakers in Mexico adapted the preparation and the word for the filled corn parcel. English usage spread with Mexican food and culture, and the dish became especially associated with celebrations and everyday meals in the United States.
Related word forms
How tamale is actually used
The singular is tamale, and the standard plural is tamales. The word is strongly associated with Mexican cuisine, but tamales made with other fillings, including cheese or vegetables, are also common.