atún
/aˈtun/masculine
The Spanish word for tuna is atún.
atún is the standard term used to refer to the fish in most Spanish-speaking countries.
Meaning: fish (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, specifically in the Basque Country and Navarre, the term bacoreta is used to refer to white tuna.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of atún is atunes.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈtun/
Did you know?
- In Spain, the pursuit of atún is tied to the historic almadraba technique, a complex system of traps used since the Phoenicians to catch bluefin tuna.
- The Spanish word atún entered the language via Andalusian Arabic, reflecting the heavy influence of Moorish culture on the Iberian Peninsula.
- While atún is the general term, the specific phrase atún rojo refers to the bluefin tuna, which is often treated as a luxury delicacy similar to Wagyu beef in high-end Spanish cuisine.
Examples in context
- Tom abrió una lata de atún.Tom opened a can of tuna fish.This sentence shows how to use atún when referring to canned fish.Tatoeba #2492067 by marcelostockle, translation #2006513 by CK
- Me comí una ensalada de atún.I ate a tuna salad.This sentence demonstrates the use of atún in a salad context.Tatoeba #4554035 by swyter, translation #4540919 by Hybrid
- ¿Por qué es tan caro el atún rojo?Why is bluefin tuna so expensive?This sentence illustrates how to talk about the price of bluefin tuna using atún.Tatoeba #10317450 by Seael, translation #12898674 by araneo
- Me gusta comer atún en ensaladas.I enjoy eating tuna in salads.
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In a seafood market.
- MaríaHola Alejandro, ¿qué tal el atún?Hello Alejandro, how is the tuna?
- AlejandroMaría, este atún parece excelente.Maria, this tuna looks excellent.
- María¿Quieres llevarte ese atún?Do you want to take that tuna?
- AlejandroSí, me gusta mucho este atún.Yes, I like this tuna a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tuna” translations and entries atún, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries atún, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
