burrito
MediumInformal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A Mexican dish consisting of a flour tortilla wrapped around a filling of meat, beans, rice, cheese, and other ingredients.
Any rolled or wrapped food item resembling this dish; in casual contexts, can refer to anything tightly wrapped or bundled.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a culinary term, strongly associated with Mexican or Tex-Mex cuisine. The defining characteristic is the wrapping in a soft, warm flour tortilla, distinguishing it from other wraps like tacos or fajitas. Can be used metaphorically.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic difference. The dish is more commonly found and referenced in American contexts due to geographical proximity and cultural influence. In the UK, it is still recognisable as a specific food item.
Connotations
In the US: common fast-casual or takeaway food, associated with freshness and customisation at chains like Chipotle. In the UK: more likely seen as a specific 'world food' option, part of the broader 'Mexican' restaurant category.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English, both in menus and everyday speech. Lower but still significant frequency in British English, increasing with the popularity of Mexican-style eateries.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
I'll have a chicken burrito.He wrapped the burrito tightly.They sell burritos and tacos.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Rare] Rolled up like a burrito (wrapped tightly, often in blankets)”
- “[Slang] Burrito of sadness (humorous term for a disappointing burrito)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Uncommon. May appear in contexts like the food industry, restaurant management, or marketing for casual dining.
Academic
Extremely rare, except in cultural or anthropological studies of food.
Everyday
Very common when discussing food, meals, restaurants, or takeaway options.
Technical
Unlikely, except in specific culinary or food service manuals.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We'll just burrito the leftovers in some foil.
- (informal, rare)
American English
- He burritoed the baby in a warm blanket.
- (informal, rare)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial usage)
American English
- (No standard adverbial usage)
adjective
British English
- She ordered the burrito bowl instead of the wrapped version.
American English
- We're going for a burrito run. Do you want anything?
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like chicken burritos.
- We ate burritos for lunch.
- This burrito is very big.
- Would you prefer a burrito or a salad?
- I'm going to make vegetarian burritos for dinner tonight.
- He ordered a burrito with extra guacamole.
- The new Mexican place does an amazing breakfast burrito with scrambled eggs and chorizo.
- After a long hike, we were desperate for something hearty, so we stopped at the first burrito shop we saw.
- She carefully folded the tortilla to prevent the burrito from falling apart as she ate it.
- The debate over whether a burrito should include rice is a surprisingly divisive topic among food purists.
- In a metaphorical sense, the new legislation is a political burrito, stuffed with unrelated amendments designed to appease various factions.
- The startup's business model was to 'burrito-fy' other cuisines, offering Korean or Indian fillings in a portable tortilla wrap.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BURRITO' – a 'BURR' is rough, but this is a soft wrap. Or: You 'BURY' all the tasty ingredients 'TO'gether inside the tortilla.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BURRITO IS A CONTAINER/BUNDLE (for holding diverse ingredients). A PROBLEM/TASK IS A BURRITO (something to be wrapped up/completed).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally. It is not 'маленький ослик' (little donkey).
- It is not a 'шаурма' or 'шаверма', which are different styles of meat wraps.
- Do not confuse with 'ролл' (sushi roll), though the concept of rolling is similar.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing as /bʌˈriːtoʊ/ (buh-REE-toh) instead of /bəˈriːtoʊ/ (buh-REE-toh).
- Spelling error: 'burito' (missing one 'r').
- Confusing with 'taco' (hard or soft shell, not wrapped) or 'enchilada' (covered in sauce and baked).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary ingredient that defines a burrito's form?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A taco is typically smaller, with a single folded tortilla (often crisp), while a burrito is larger, uses a soft flour tortilla, and is completely wrapped or rolled to enclose the fillings.
Informally and humorously, yes, meaning to wrap something up tightly, like 'I burritoed myself in the duvet.' This is not standard formal usage.
No, this is a matter of regional and personal preference. Traditional burritos in some regions of Mexico may not include rice, while many modern fast-casual versions do.
The standard pronunciation is /bəˈriːtoʊ/ (buh-REE-toh) in American English and /bəˈriːtəʊ/ (buh-REE-toh) in British English. The stress is on the second syllable.