Mexican Name Finder
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Churro

"ridged fritter"

Say it

CHOO·rroh

Where it comes from

Spanish churro (also the name of a coarse-wooled Spanish sheep breed)

What Churro means

Churro is a Mexican sweet name of Spanish origin meaning "ridged fritter". It comes from Spanish churro (also the name of a coarse-wooled Spanish sheep breed). It is pronounced CHOO-rroh, and it is most associated with the whole country.

The ridged dough is usually said to imitate the curled horns of the churra sheep. The link is traditional and unproven, and the word's earlier history in Spanish is unclear.

About this origin. The etymology is uncertain, disputed, or the name is a modern brand rather than an old word. The reading above is the best-supported one; food writing repeats stories that the dictionaries do not confirm.

This is a site about what Mexican words mean, so there is no recipe here. For the name itself: From colonial convent sweets like ate and jamoncillo to the chili-and-tamarind candies of the modern corner shop. Alegría means "joy", borrachito means "little drunk one", and muégano's name is a mystery even to Mexicans.

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Churro means ridged fritter

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