Tacos is a plural noun referring to small, folded tortillas filled with ingredients such as meat, vegetables, and salsa. In everyday use, it designates the dish and the individual servings, commonly enjoyed as a casual meal or snack. The word is widespread in English-speaking contexts and often appears in menus, food writing, and conversation about Mexican cuisine.
"We ordered a dozen tacos for the picnic."
"The taco truck parked downtown draws a long line every lunchtime."
"She tried a spicy chicken taco with lime and cilantro."
"Tacos al pastor are a favorite at our Mexican street-food night."
The word taco originates from Mexican Spanish, likely dating back to the 19th century or earlier, with early usage in rural dialects. The Spanish term is traditionally used to describe a tortilla-wrapped bundle, a concept found in many indigenous and colonial food practices. In English, taco entered general usage in the United States and other English-speaking regions in the 20th century, closely tied to the rise of Mexican-American cuisine. The full form tacos (plural) follows standard English pluralization by adding -s. The notion of a folded tortilla containing fillings evolved alongside tortilla production and the development of different regional carne y toppings. Early loanwords and culinary terms borrowed from Spanish often carried phonetic approximations into American English, influencing how speakers place stress and vowel quality when adapting the word into common discourse. Modern usage emphasizes the plural form for multiple servings or varieties, and the term remains closely linked to street food culture, taquerias, and casual dining. First known English attestations appear in cookbooks and menus in the mid-20th century, with broader global adoption in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as international food media popularized Mexican street foods.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Tacos" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Tacos" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Tacos"
-cos sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as tuh-KOHS with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US: /təˈkɒs/ or /təˈkoʊz/ depending on regional variation; UK/AU commonly /təˈkɒs/. Start with a relaxed schwa in the first syllable, then a crisp /k/ followed by a short /ɒ/ (or /oʊ/ in some accents) and final /s/. Imagine saying tuh-COHS, with a clear, short vowel in the second syllable. Audio references you can consult: Pronounce or Forvo entries for tacos, Rachel’s English tutorials on similar syllables.
Common errors include: 1) Misplacing the stress on the first syllable: ta-COS vs ta-COHS. 2) Pronouncing the second syllable as /tɑːkos/ with a long a; keep the short /ɒ/ (or /oʊ/ in some accents). 3) Slurring the /k/ into a /g/ or turning /k/ into a consonant blend like /tk/. Correction: emphasize the /k/ clearly, keep the schwa or short /ɒ/ vowel, and end with a crisp /s/. Practice with minimal pairs like couple: tuh-KOS vs tuh-COWS, slow-down the /k/ before adding /s/.
In US English, /təˈkɒs/ or /təˈkoʊz/ shows a short or mid back vowel before the /s/; rhotics are not a factor here. UK/AU often use /təˈkɒs/ with a sharper /ɒ/ and a crisper /s/. Australians may have a slightly broader vowel in /ɒ/ and a longer, more fronted /oʊ/ variant hearing as /təˈkoʊz/ in some speakers. The main variation is the quality of the vowel in the stressed syllable and whether the final sound is /s/ or /z/ due to voicing in connected speech.
The challenge lies in the short, clipped vowel after the /t/ and the clean /k/ before the /s/. English speakers often misplace the stress or merge vowels, giving tuh-KAHS or tuh-KOOS. Keeping the second syllable short with a crisp /k/ and final /s/ helps. For non-native speakers, the subtle distinction between /ɒ/ (or /oʊ/) and /ɑ/ can change perceived authenticity. Practice by isolating the sequence /təˈkɒs/ and gradually adding speed.
Unique tip: the second syllable carries the key vowel that shapes the overall sound. To nail it, start with a relaxed first syllable, then quickly clamp down your tongue for a hard /k/ and keep the tongue at the back of the mouth for /ɒ/. Finally, finish with a crisp /s/ without voicing. Visualize the tongue moving from a neutral position to a sudden stop for /k/ and a sharp /s/; this helps maintain accurate rhythm and prevents vowel elongation.
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