adobo

American  

[uh-doh-boh] / əˈdoʊ boʊ /

noun

plural

adobos

1. a Filipino dish of pork or chicken stewed in a marinade of vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, herbs, and spices; the national dish of the Philippines.

   The pork adobo we had in Manila may be the best meal I’ve ever had.

2. a Latin American dish of meat or fish prepared in a pastelike marinade of chiles, cinnamon and other spices, garlic, herbs, and vinegar.

   My Mexican brother-in-law makes an awesome adobo with fresh-caught trout.

3. the concoction of flavorful ingredients in which the meat or fish of adobo is cooked.

   The adobo for tonight’s chicken features Saigon cinnamon and a homemade cider vinegar.

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adobo British  

/ əˈdəʊbəʊ /

noun

1. the national dish of the Philippines, which consists of chunks of meat, fish, or vegetables, marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and spices and then stewed in the marinade

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Etymology

Origin of adobo

First recorded in 1935–40; from Spanish, literally “marinade, marinated meat, pickle,” from adobar “to marinate, pickle,” probably from Old French adober “to prepare, equip (a knight)”; daube ( def. ), dub ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Don’t miss some returning favorites, such as the barbacoa tamal de res, in which the beef is pleasantly tender, or the braised pork belly adobo, one of the heartier dishes at the festival.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2025

The sea turtle was cooked as adobo, a popular Filipino dish consisting of meat and vegetables stewed in vinegar and soy sauce.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2024

This winter, that looks like wild boar empanadas, pork adobo and a beef stew called mechado ladled over garlic fried rice, all of which she says would pair very nicely with mulled wine.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 14, 2023

Adjust seasonings with adobo powder, salt, and pepper, to taste.

From Salon • May 13, 2023

His mother taught him to prepare Filipino comfort food like pancit canton, made with richly spiced noodles, and adobo chicken, the vinegary unofficial national dish of the Philippines.

From New York Times • Jan. 8, 2023