bonito

American  

[buh-nee-toh] / bəˈni toʊ /

noun

plural

bonito,

plural

bonitos

1. any mackerel-like fish of the genus Sarda, as S. sarda, of the Atlantic Ocean.

2. any of several related species, as the skipjack, Euthynnus pelamis.

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bonito British  

/ bəˈniːtəʊ /

noun

1. any of various small tunny-like marine food fishes of the genus Sarda , of warm Atlantic and Pacific waters: family Scombridae (tunnies and mackerels)

2. any of various similar or related fishes, such as Katsuwonus pelamis ( oceanic bonito ), the flesh of which is dried and flaked and used in Japanese cookery

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Etymology

Origin of bonito

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Spanish: literally, “pretty,” equivalent to bueno “good” + -ito diminutive suffix, or from Arabic bainīth

Compare meaning

How does bonito compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• bonito vs. Bonita

Example Sentences

Dishes include Mas Huni 2.0, made with smoked bonito, Kampot pepper, onion, curry leaves, coconut and lime, are an elevated play on the Maldivian staple.

From Salon • Dec. 27, 2025

On top of these, the team also noted that bonito stock cultures grew quicker and reached higher densities than cultures grown on conventional media, and likely produced more types or amounts of carotenoids.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2024

Volunteers toss big steel hooks baited with bloody chunks of bonito fish overboard, and heavy concrete anchors pull the bait to the sea floor, where it will hopefully attract some of the region’s largest sharks.

From Scientific American • Oct. 18, 2023

It is something that is celebrated, enjoyed and relished in Brazil, where it is referred to as the jogo bonito, the beautiful game.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2022

It will be harder to eat than the bonito.

From "The Old Man and The Sea" by Ernest Hemingway