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• tamale
  tamale

  noun

  a Mexican dish made of minced and seasoned meat packed in cornmeal dough, wrapped in corn husks, and steamed.
• Tamale
  Tamale

  noun

  a city in N Ghana.

tamale

¹ American  

[tuh-mah-lee] / təˈmɑ li /

noun

• tamales
  plural

1. a Mexican dish made of minced and seasoned meat packed in cornmeal dough, wrapped in corn husks, and steamed.

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Tamale ² American  

[tuh-mah-lee] / təˈmɑ li /

noun

1. a city in N Ghana.

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tamale British  

/ təˈmɑːlɪ /

noun

1. a Mexican dish made of minced meat mixed with crushed maize and seasonings, wrapped in maize husks and steamed

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tamales
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tamale

1605–15, construed as singular of Mexican Spanish tamales, plural of tamal < Nahuatl tamalli

Explanation

The tamale is a popular food in Mexican cuisine, made of cornmeal dough that's filled with meat or cheese and wrapped in a cornhusk before being steamed. If you have the chance, you should definitely try some tamales. Traditionally, the cornhusk (or banana leaf) wrapper was used as a plate for eating the warm tamale, and these delicious savory treats are often still eaten this way today. The starchy masa (or cornmeal) that's used in tamales becomes firm after being steamed, and this makes it a perfect portable meal. The word tamale comes from the Mexican Spanish tamal, which has a Nahuatl root, tamalli, meaning "wrapped."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tamale Tamale tamales

Another tamale street vendor not far from Maria's cart said she had heard of her detention and quickly teared up over what happened.

From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2025

Business cards sit on top of the tamale cart.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2025

Before knocking on doors, Duarte had spent his morning at a tamale festival and was headed next to an event at a Sikh temple.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2024

Dig into tamale waffles, topped with shredded beef and two eggs or rich, cheesy shrimp and grits.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 1, 2024

He lives with his mother, a tamale maker, in a tiny wooden shack.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

Some standouts include The Original Tamale, Sending Noods and plant-based street food innovators MANEATINGPLANT.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2025

Superman used to go after Nazis, Klansmen and intergalactic monsters; now, Superman — er, Cain — wants to go after Tamale Lady.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2025

Back in Tamale, Ghana, the BBC team followed the local task force on one final raid that turned up even more of Aveo's Tafrodol.

From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2025

For catering, she hired Tamale My Life, which she chose for its solid vegetarian options.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 15, 2024

Now, Beekstein, you see the position of First Grand Hot Tamale will be the real thing.

From The Varmint by Frederic Rodrigo Gruger

Tucked away in a Sun Valley strip mall, El Compadre market and restaurant was a neighborhood staple, selling handmade tamales, carne asada tacos, fresh pan dulce and an array of products imported from Mexico.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

Modern restaurant menus, with the familiar enchiladas and tamales and hard-shell tacos, can resemble Tex-Mex, but never say that to a New Mexican local.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

She has witnessed immigration agents detaining street vendors selling tamales, chicharrónes and empanadas.

From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026

Never mind all the newborns rolled out and swaddled like Christmas tamales, or the forceps deliveries that resemble tooth extractions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 23, 2025

The tamales are so good, I eat until my stomach hurts.

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko