churro
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of churro
First recorded in 1925–30; from Spanish, perhaps after dialect churro (a kind of coarse-wooled sheep), the name for the inhabitants of the mountainous parts of Valencia, the approximate area where the pastry originated
Explanation
A churro is a sweet fried dough treat that's common in Spain, Portugal, and many Latin American countries. In many places, churros are served at breakfast, along with hot coffee. Churros are made by piping choux pastry into extremely hot oil, then rolling them in sugar and cinnamon. They're similar to doughnuts or really good fried dough — crispy and light on the outside, tender inside. No one's totally sure how the churro originated, but one theory says Portuguese explorers brought the recipe back from China during the Ming Dynasty. The word churro is onomatopoeic, resembling the sound of dough sizzling in oil.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The classic churro was not unscathed, with 50 cents added to the price tag.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
He was also looking for a way of repaying the same neighbors who had for years been loyal customers at the churro stand that his family ran from the home’s driveway.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2025
Mercado González also is responsible for drawing other businesses into Costa Mesa, like Churrería El Moro, the legendary Mexico City churro shop.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2024
Back in December, rumors began circulating that Costco had removed its beloved fan-favorite churro and added a double chocolate chunk cookie to take its place on the menu.
From Salon ● Jan. 16, 2024
She took a sip of water, then grabbed my hand and took a bite out of my churro.
From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya
Today, the company claims to control more than 90% of the churros market in the U.S. with brands like Hola Churros.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
Around me: Jamaican steel drums, an electrified sitar, Mexican women selling churros, Chinese immigrants painting tourists’ names in calligraphy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2026
In Spain, fritter-like buñuelos showed up with the Moors, and by some reports, churros were a Chinese idea that was later dragged through molten chocolate by hungry Madrileños or wandering shepherds or both.
From Salon ● Feb. 5, 2026
Never known enough to replace buñuelos or churros, but too good to ignore.
From Salon ● Feb. 5, 2026
And because I was sure I would forever associate churros with heartbreak, I knew that I’d probably never eat a churro again.
From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
