tapas
English · Español · Français · Deutsch · Português
AI In plain words
Writing a short explanation…
Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
tapas¹
- /ˈtæpæs/ UK
- /-pəs/ UK
- /ˈtæpəs/ US
- /ˈtɑː-/ US
Where it comes from
From Spanish tapas, the plural of tapa (“appetizer, tapa; cap, lid (cover of a container)”) (from the fact that plates of tapas were originally placed on the tops of glasses of alcoholic beverages as lids), from Gothic *𐍄𐌰𐍀𐍀𐌰 (*tappa), from Proto-Germanic *tappô (“plug; tap”), from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂p- (“to lose; to sacrifice”). Doublet of tap.
noun tapa
- A variety of Spanish small savoury food items or snacks such as croquettes, cured meat, potato salad, and seafood, originally served with sherry and now often with other alcoholic beverages as well. The snacks are called tapas because in the old days a piece of toast was served, too, so that you might have a "top" on your glass of sherry, a lid that would prevent the flies from getting into the glass.
tapas²
- /ˈtæp.æs/ UK
- /ˈtæp.əs/ US
- /ˈt̪ɐ.pɐs/ India
Where it comes from
From Sanskrit तप् (tap, “heat; to be hot”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tep- (“to be warm or hot”). Related to tepid.
noun
- (The practice of) asceticism and self-discipline.
tapas³
Where it comes from
From tapa + -s.
noun
- plural of tapa
Translations
Talk about this word "tapas." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/tapas. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. tapas. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/tapas "tapas." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/tapas.Cite this
@misc{tapas_2026,
title = {tapas},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/tapas},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
