nacho

American  

[nah-choh] / ˈnɑ tʃoʊ /

noun

Mexican Cooking.

• nachos
  plural

1. a snack or appetizer consisting of a tortilla chip topped with cheese, pickled jalapeño peppers, refried beans, etc., and baked or broiled.

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nacho British  

/ ˈnɑːtʃəʊ /

noun

1. Mexican cookery a snack consisting of a piece of tortilla topped with cheese, hot peppers, etc, and grilled

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• nachos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of nacho

First recorded in 1945–50; from Mexican Spanish Nacho, nickname for the male given name Ignacio, specifically, Ignacio Anaya, a Mexican chef who supposedly invented the dish in the mid-1940s

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nacho nachos

Did free chips and salsa, with nacho cheese fountains, not make the cut?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

Kayley said another reason she carried on was because she was looking forward to a nacho bar.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

Then I went home and I sat on the couch with a family-sized bag of nacho Doritos.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2024

Meanwhile, the interior gets loaded with fajita-style chicken, housemade nacho cheese sauce and pico de gallo, a natural friend to any tostada.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 5, 2023

And sure enough, there it was at the back of the warehouse, a fast- food counter with a grill, a soda fountain, a pretzel heater, and a nacho cheese dispenser.

From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan

“We have a few really die-hard salad customers and a few folks who love the fully loaded nachos with all of the vegetables,” Fluhler said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026

In Section 533 of Angel Stadium, high above the foul pole in right field, where fans enjoying pretzels and helmet nachos wore Angels caps and Mike Trout shirts, a kindly usher approached.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026

And on Sunday night, as America was heating up nachos for Super Bowl parties, Team USA’s skaters were lacing up for their own winner-take-all showdown.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 9, 2026

Tripe stew, nachos, even “mac” and cheese arrive with ridged, cut-up fried dough standing in for potatoes, tortilla chips, or pasta.

From Salon ● Dec. 6, 2025

“That I like chocolate donut holes and Tater Tots and nachos and that you never make me eat what I don’t like.”

From "Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key" by Jack Gantos