tortilla

noun

tor·​ti·​lla tȯr-ˈtē-yə How to pronounce tortilla (audio)
: a thin round of unleavened cornmeal or wheat flour bread usually eaten hot with a topping or filling (as of ground meat or cheese)

Examples of tortilla in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Landing in between a latke and a Spanish tortilla in flavor and texture, potato kugel is, like all kugels, a baked casserole common in the Ashkenazi Jewish culinary tradition. — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Sep. 2026 MyFitnessPal shared a High-Protein Breakfast Quesadilla estimated at 31g using bacon, eggs, black beans, jalapeno, a whole-grain tortilla, cheddar, baby arugula and cumin. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026 Today’s recipe This California burrito recipe calls for steak, fries, cheese and sour cream in a flour tortilla — that’s it. — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 For a quick lunch, try a black bean and avocado quesadilla on a whole-wheat tortilla. — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tortilla

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from American Spanish (Mexico, Central America, parts of the Caribbean and South America), from Spanish, diminutive of torta "cake, pastry," going back to Late Latin tōrta "round loaf of bread" — more at tart entry 2

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tortilla was in 1648

Phrases Containing tortilla

Rhymes for tortilla

See All Rhymes for tortilla

Browse Nearby Words

tortile
tortilla
tortilla chip
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tortilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tortilla. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tortilla

noun
tor·​ti·​lla tȯr-ˈtē-(y)ə How to pronounce tortilla (audio)
: a thin round of unleavened cornmeal or wheat flour bread
Etymology

American Spanish, literally "little cake," from Spanish torta "cake"

More from Merriam-Webster on tortilla

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tortilla

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