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

While meatballs are baking, stir together tomatoes and chiles, barbecue sauce, chicken broth, tomato paste, and remaining 2 tablespoons Worcestershire, 1 tablespoon adobo sauce, 1 teaspoon salt in a large skillet. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2025

If using jarred diced chipotle in adobo sauce, use about ¼ cup. —Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 15 Apr. 2025

Cauliflower Adobo Chicken adobo, the national dish of the Philippines, is made by braising chicken in a salty, sour and sweet mixture of mostly soy sauce and vinegar. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, The Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2025

Let the rice sit, covered and off the heat, until the adobo is ready. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, The Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2025

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