tortilla de maíz
/toɾtiʝa de maiθ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "corn tortilla" is translated into Spanish as tortilla de maíz.
A tortilla de maíz refers to a thin, flat bread made from corn masa.
Which one should you use?
Use tortilla de maíz specifically for corn tortillas, whereas tortilla de harina refers to a flour tortilla.
How do you pronounce it?
/toɾtiʝa de maiθ/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, the word tortilla can refer to a thick, omelette-like dish rather than the thin Mexican bread.
- While English speakers use 'corn' to describe the ingredient, the Spanish word maíz actually has its origins in the Taíno language of the Caribbean.
- While tortilla de maíz is the standard term, some regions use the word tlaxcalli from Nahuatl to refer to the original ancestral version of the bread.
Examples in context
- En México, las tortillas de maíz son un alimento básico.In Mexico, corn tortillas are a staple food.
- ¿Desea tacos con tortilla de maíz o tortilla de harina?Do you want tacos with corn tortilla or flour tortilla?
- No hay tortillas de maíz, ¿puedo usar tortillas de harina?There are no corn tortillas, can I use flour tortillas?
- Quiero tres tortillas de maíz, por favor.I want three corn tortillas, please.
- Compré una tortilla de maíz en el mercado.I bought a corn tortilla at the market.
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are deciding what to eat for lunch.
- Sofía¿Quieres una tortilla de maíz con salsa?Do you want a corn tortilla with sauce?
- JavierSí, suena muy bien, Sofía.Yes, that sounds very good, Sofía.
- SofíaPerfecto, voy a prepararla ahora.Perfect, I will prepare it now.
- JavierGracias, eres muy amable.Thanks, you are very kind.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, maíz, tortilla, CC BY-SA 4.0.
