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:

• enchilada vs. burrito
• burrito vs. chimichanga
• 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

Olsen, who continued waiting in the lengthy line for a burrito at the fan zone in downtown LA, said this year's tournament just felt different.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

It’s very homestyle Mexican food, and I would get their Hollenbeck burrito, which is pretty epic.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026

Much of the burrito chain’s recent growth has been driven by new restaurant openings rather than consumers visiting more often.

From Barron's ● May 6, 2026

Your burrito would still cook in the microwave at exactly the same rate.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 10, 2026

A deep-fried bean burrito, the bufriedo proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that frying always improves a food.

From "Looking for Alaska" by John Green

The chain, which has more than 4,100 outlets worldwide, said on Monday that the move is a "significant milestone" for the firm - known for its customisable burritos, tacos and bowls.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

Each entrée contained approximately 3.0-3.5 ounces of meat and was served in foods such as fajitas, burgers, stew, burritos, and stir fry.

From Science Daily ● May 22, 2026

Before you get to the park, my colleague Amy King suggests stopping by Breakaway Cafe for yummy breakfast burritos or Menotti’s for coffee.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 6, 2026

Fans could sip on BTS chocolate lattes or devour BTS kimchi-and-beef burritos.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026

I shoveled cold burritos into my mouth as I waited for my laptop to boot.

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin