Tamales
/təˈmɑːliz/noun
Steamed dishes made from masa or another dough, typically filled and wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves.
Did you know?Tamales have deep precolonial roots in Mesoamerica and were portable foods used by travelers, soldiers, and people participating in ceremonial life.
Etymological Timeline
Before the 16th Century
Nahuatl
tamalli
“A wrapped or enclosed thing; a steamed masa preparation”
16th Century
Spanish
tamal
“An Indigenous Mesoamerican steamed dough food, adopted into Spanish after contact”
19th Century
Mexican Spanish
tamal
“A customary food made from masa and fillings wrapped in leaves or husks”
19th Century
American English
tamale
“A tamal; English added a final vowel, likely influenced by Spanish plural forms and English pronunciation”
Modern English
English
tamales
“Plural of tamale, referring to the wrapped steamed dishes”