dorado: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal / Technical / Culinary
Quick answer
What does “dorado” mean?
A large, brightly coloured marine fish, also known as mahi-mahi or dolphinfish, prized in sport fishing and cuisine.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, brightly coloured marine fish, also known as mahi-mahi or dolphinfish, prized in sport fishing and cuisine.
The Spanish word for 'golden', used in proper names and historical contexts (e.g., El Dorado). Can also refer to a constellation in the southern sky.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'dorado' is less common than 'mahi-mahi' in culinary contexts. In American English, especially in fishing and restaurant menus, 'dorado' is more frequently used alongside 'mahi-mahi'. The constellation name is identical.
Connotations
In both varieties, the fish connotes sport, exotic cuisine, and tropical waters. 'El Dorado' connotes mythical wealth and exploration.
Frequency
Overall low frequency. Higher in specific domains: fishing magazines, restaurant menus, and historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “dorado” in a Sentence
catch a doradocook the doradosearch for El DoradoVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in the tourism or seafood import/export industry ('We source sustainable dorado').
Academic
Used in marine biology, history (Age of Exploration), and astronomy.
Everyday
Very rare in general conversation. May appear on a restaurant menu.
Technical
Common in ichthyology, sport fishing reports, and culinary arts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dorado”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dorado”
- Using 'dorado' to refer to the mammal dolphin.
- Misspelling as 'dorado' for the fish but 'El Dorado' for the myth.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Dorado (or mahi-mahi) is a fish. The marine mammal dolphin is a completely different animal. The name 'dolphinfish' for dorado is a historical misnomer.
In British English: /dɒˈrɑːdəʊ/ (doh-RAH-doh). In American English: /dəˈrɑːdoʊ/ (duh-RAH-doh).
Rarely in modern English. Its origin is the Spanish adjective for 'golden', but in English it is almost exclusively a noun (the fish or the mythical place).
They refer to the same species of fish (Coryphaena hippurus). 'Dorado' is from Spanish, 'mahi-mahi' from Hawaiian. Usage varies by region and context, with 'mahi-mahi' being very common on menus globally.
A large, brightly coloured marine fish, also known as mahi-mahi or dolphinfish, prized in sport fishing and cuisine.
Dorado is usually formal / technical / culinary in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “El Dorado (a place of great wealth or opportunity)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DOOR made of gold (oro in Spanish) with a RADiant fish swimming through it: DOOR-ADO = golden fish.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEALTH IS EL DORADO (The mythical city represents ultimate, often unattainable, riches).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'El Dorado' primarily known as?