criollo

noun

cri·​o·​llo krē-ˈōl-(ˌ)yō 

-ˈō-(ˌ)yō

plural criollos

1

a

: a person of pure Spanish descent born in Spanish America

b

: a person born and usually raised in a Spanish-American country

2

: a domestic animal of a breed or strain (as of cattle) developed in Latin America

especially, often Criollo : any of a breed of hardy muscular ponies originally developed in Argentina

criollo adjective

Examples of criollo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Our belle of the barbecue is a citrusy take on an American classic—beer-can chicken—with an ode to mojo criollo, a marinade traditionally made with bitter sour oranges, warm spices, and a heavy hand of garlic. — Inés Anguiano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026

The cooking is deliberate and ingredient-driven, like achiote, hoja santa, chiles and maíz criollo. — Gina Góngora, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2026

The lieutenant colonel is a powerful criollo. — Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026

Nineteenth-century Puerto Rican criollo elites continued this pattern. — Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 5 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Spanish — more at creole

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for criollo

• follow
• hollow
• malo
• swallow
• wallow
• apollo