Word
mexican
Phoneticsmex·i·can
/ˈmɛksəkən/
Definitions
01from Mexico
adj. coming from or relating to the country of Mexico.
adj. relating to the nation of Mexico, its people, or its culture.
“We went to a Mexican restaurant for my birthday dinner.”
“The museum features an extensive collection of Mexican folk art from the nineteenth century.”
Usage
Always capitalized in English.
02a person
n. a person who comes from Mexico.
n. a citizen or inhabitant of Mexico, or a person of Mexican descent.
“My new neighbor is a Mexican who moved here last year.”
“The documentary follows several Mexicans as they navigate the complexities of life in the border regions.”
Usage
Always capitalized.
03cuisine
n. food that is typical of Mexico.
n. cuisine originating from Mexico, often including traditional dishes or regional variations like Tex-Mex.
“I really love Mexican, especially when it is spicy.”
“While many international chains serve a simplified version, authentic Mexican offers a diverse range of regional flavors and ingredients.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the food category.
04language
n. the type of Spanish spoken in Mexico.
n. the variety or dialect of the Spanish language as spoken in Mexico.
“He speaks Mexican with a very clear accent.”
“Linguists often study the unique vocabulary and phonetic traits that distinguish Mexican from Peninsular Spanish.”
Usage
Usually refers to Mexican Spanish rather than indigenous languages like Nahuatl.
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish mexicano, from Nahuatl mēxihcah plural of mēxihcatl (“a Mexica”) + -ano (“-an”). By surface analysis, Mexico + -an. Doublet of Mexicano.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
Mexican breakfast — A breakfast consisting of a cigarette and a glass of water.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/mexican