How to Say "Taco" in Japanese

タコス

takosu[ta̠ko̞sɨ]

The Japanese word for the Mexican snack food taco is タコス (takosu).

The word refers to the Mexican dish known as a taco.

Meaning: Mexican snack food (noun)

How does it change in a sentence?

When using タコス as the object of a verb like 'to eat', you must add the particle 'wo' (written as を) after it.

takosu

In Japan, タコス are often served as 'taco rice' (タコライス), a fusion dish where the ingredients are served over a bed of rice instead of in a tortilla.
If you were to say タコ (tako) instead of タコス (takosu) in a restaurant, the staff might inadvertently bring you an octopus dish instead of a taco.
The word タコス is used in the plural form specifically to distinguish it from タコ, which means 'octopus'.

「マジでタコスを食べたことがないの？」「マジで」
"You've seriously never eaten a taco?" "Seriously."
This sentence is useful for expressing disbelief about someone's experience with the food タコス.
Tatoeba #10654150 by DJ_Saidez, translation #10768170 by end
友達と一緒にタコスを食べたい！
I want to eat tacos with my friends!
もんじゃ焼きやお好み焼きもいいけど、たまにはタコスも食べたくなるね。
Monjayaki and okonomiyaki are great, but once in a while, you crave tacos too, right?
このお店のタコスはすごく美味しいよ。
Kono omise no takosu wa sugoku oishii yo.
The tacos at this shop are very delicious.
今日のランチにタコスを食べたいな。
Kyō no ranchi ni takosu o tabetai na.
I want to eat tacos for lunch today.

Two friends are discussing what to eat for dinner.

結衣 Yui

蓮くん、今日の夕食はタコスにしない？
Ren-kun, kyō no yūshoku wa takosu ni shinai?
Ren, why don't we have tacos for dinner tonight?
蓮 Ren

いいよ、タコスは最高だね。
Ii yo, takosu wa saikō da ne.
Sure, tacos are the best.
結衣 Yui

じゃあ、近くのメキシコ料理店に行こう。
Jā, chikaku no Mekishiko ryōriten ni ikō.
Then, let's go to the nearby Mexican restaurant.
蓮 Ren

結衣、準備ができたら教えて。
Yui, junbi ga dekitara oshiete.
Yui, let me know when you are ready.

Sources

Wiktionary, “taco” translations and entries タコス, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries タコス, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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