adobo

noun

ado·​bo ə-ˈdō-bō  ä-ˈt͟hō-bō 

plural adobos

1

: a Philippine dish of fish or meat usually marinated in a sauce containing vinegar and garlic, browned in fat, and simmered in the marinade

2

: a spicy marinade used in Latin American cuisine and usually containing vinegar, garlic, and chili peppers

chipotles in adobo

3

: a seasoning mixture that typically includes ground dried garlic, ground dried onion, oregano, salt, and pepper

Examples of adobo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Add the adobo, sazón, oregano and bay leaves. —Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 22 May 2026

The dinner menu was already revised to feature steaks and such dishes as octopus Veracruz or a pork chop adobo with roasted pineapple. —Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 May 2026

Or there’s the adobo pork, which is this tangy, spicy pork stew. —AFAR Media, 11 May 2026

The star here is the adobo black beans, which seem to coat every last part of the bowl. —Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Spanish, "marinade," noun derivative of adobar "to arrange, prepare, cook, marinate," borrowed from Old French adober "to arm (a knight), prepare," from a- (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + -dober, borrowed from Old Low Franconian *dubban "to strike"; akin to Old Frisian dubba "to hit, knock" — more at dub entry 1

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for adobo

• bobo
• hobo
• lobo
• oboe