ENGLISH
REFERENCE

taco

n. · v.
US //ˈtɑkoʊ// UK //tˈɑːkəʊ// taco
  1. 1 Mexican food (n.)
    A1 Beginner Cooking

    a Mexican dish made of a small, folded tortilla filled with meat, beans, cheese, or vegetables.

    a traditional Mexican dish consisting of a corn or wheat tortilla folded or rolled around a filling such as seasoned meat, beans, or salsa.

    Example

    We had beef tacos with spicy salsa and fresh lime for dinner.

    Example

    The street vendor prepared authentic tacos al pastor, expertly slicing the marinated pork directly into small, hand-pressed corn tortillas.

  2. 2 to fold or buckle (v.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Slang

    to accidentally fold or bend something, like a bicycle wheel, until it is ruined.

    to fold or cause an object to buckle in half, typically referring to the structural failure of a circular object like a wheel.

    Example

    I hit a deep hole in the road and tacoed my front bike wheel.

    Example

    The impact was severe enough to taco the rim, leaving the cyclist stranded miles from the nearest repair shop.

    Usage

    Often used in the context of extreme sports or cycling to describe a wheel bending into a U-shape.
  3. 3 vulva (n.)
    C2 Proficiency American English Slang Vulgar

    a slang word for a woman's private parts.

    a slang term for the vulva, used primarily in American English.

    Example

    The movie contained several crude jokes using the word taco.

    Example

    The script was criticized for its reliance on vulgar metaphors, including the use of 'taco' as a anatomical reference.

    Teacher's tip

    This usage is highly informal and can be considered offensive or objectifying; learners should avoid using it in most social contexts.

Origin

Borrowed from Mexican Spanish taco, of uncertain origin; see the Spanish entry for more.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026