chilaquiles

Where does the word "chilaquiles" come from? It comes from Nahuatl chīlāquīlli, passing through Spanish before entering English (1970s).

Chilaquiles’s story begins in Nahuatl: chīlāquīlli meant “something covered in chili.” Combined 'chilli' (chili pepper) and 'quilitl' (greens/herbs), describing chili-covered tortilla pieces. By 1571, the word had taken hold in Spanish as chilaquiles. First recorded in a Nahuatl-Spanish vocabulary compiled by the friar Alonso de Molina. It reached English by 1970s as chilaquiles. Borrowed into English through Mexican breakfast cuisine. Today, chilaquiles means a traditional Mexican breakfast dish of fried tortilla pieces simmered in red or green salsa.

1. Stage 1 · Nahuatl · pre-1500s chīlāquīlli "something covered in chili", combined 'chilli' (chili pepper) and 'quilitl' (greens/herbs), describing chili-covered tortilla pieces.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1571 chilaquiles "fried tortilla pieces simmered in chili sauce", first recorded in a Nahuatl-Spanish vocabulary compiled by the friar Alonso de Molina.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1970s chilaquiles "a Mexican dish of fried tortilla strips simmered in salsa", borrowed into English through Mexican breakfast cuisine.