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Tamale Has Origins in South America
Hot tamale is sometimes used figuratively, as in our second example, to suggest sexual attractiveness, but it's the word's literal use that puts it in an interesting category. How many English food words can you name that derive from Nahuatl, a group of languages spoken by native peoples of Mexico and Central America? You've probably guessed that "tamale" gives you one; it came to us (by way of Mexican Spanish) from the Nahuatl "tamalli," a word for steamed cornmeal dough. Add to the menu "chili" (from "chīlli," identifying all those fiery peppers); "chocolate" (from "chocolātl," first used for a beverage made from chocolate and water); "guacamole" (from āhuacatl, meaning "avocado," plus mōlli, meaning "sauce"); and "tomato" (from "tomatl"). Top it all off with "chipotle" (a smoked and dried pepper), from "chīlli" and "pōctli" (meaning "something smoked").
Examples of tamale in a Sentence
Sarah Miller, Midwest Living, 29 Apr. 2026
Choose from tacos, tamales, burritos, and tortas to aguas frescas, pan dulce, and handmade tortillas.
—Sharael Kolberg, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2026
Quiet Emma’s Tamales Emma’s Tamales, which has outposts in Old Sacramento and south Sacramento, has 20 flavors of tamales, burritos and enchiladas.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The beautiful, golden-brown cornbread top on this tamale pie will blow guests away.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tamale
Cite this Entry
“Tamale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tamale. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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tamale
noun
