burrito

American  

[buh-ree-toh, boor-ree-taw] / bəˈri toʊ, burˈri tɔ /

noun

Mexican Cooking.

• burritos
  plural

1. a tortilla folded over a filling, as of ground beef, grated cheese, or refried beans.

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burrito British  

/ bəˈriːtəʊ /

noun

1. Mexican cookery a tortilla folded over a filling of minced beef, chicken, cheese, or beans

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• burritos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of burrito

First recorded in 1940–45; from Mexican Spanish (Guerrero): “stuffed taco,” Spanish: “young donkey, foal,” equivalent to burr(o) “donkey” + -ito diminutive suffix; see origin at burro

Compare meaning

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

• burrito vs. chimichanga
• enchilada vs. burrito
• taco vs. burrito
• burro vs. burrito

Explanation

A burrito is a delicious Mexican dish made of foods like beans, cheese, or other fillings rolled up in a soft tortilla. Eat a big burrito for lunch, and you may still be full at dinnertime. In Spanish, burrito means "little donkey" or "little burro," a name that may have been inspired by the rolled packs that working burros carry on their backs. Burritos are common in northern parts of Mexico and areas of the U.S. that border that country. Over the years, the burrito's popularity has spread widely, along with other Mexican dishes such as nachos and tacos. Authentic Mexican burritos tend to be smaller and have fewer ingredients than their U.S. counterparts.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

burrito burritos

A prototype for a frozen burrito with the same protein load was scrapped, because the tortilla couldn’t hold that much filling.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

Forget the Consumer Price Index: The cost of a burrito is the best way to judge how much the cost of living actually is.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

Then Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet relayed a comment from one of the organization’s college students: “A burrito shouldn’t cost $20.”

From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026

Inflationary pressures on grocery prices and supply chains have caused the cost of a standard beef burrito to climb 50% since 2020.

From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026

I could park the car, whip through two or three stores as needed, pick up a burrito bowl, and be back at my desk inside sixty minutes.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Burgers, burritos or sub sandwiches are more primed for individual meals than pizza, usually considered a food for families and groups.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

The recall includes products such as pico de gallo salsa, several types of guacamole, burritos, spicy sandwiches and fresh sliced jalapenos.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

When former taco stand El Ruso opened its flagship in Studio City last month, burritos wrapped in 18-inch Sonoran flour tortillas and stuffed with rib-eye or chile Colorado were priced at $20 each.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026

That’s when Duane Roberts, who grew up in Riverside and made his fortune selling flash-frozen burritos, bought the property and reopened it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026

I’m not sure what the other kids in the cafe saw, but they went crazy and started throwing their burritos and baskets of chips and sodas at each other, shrieking and screaming.

From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan