azulejo

[ Spanish ah-soo-le-haw, ah-thoo-; Portuguese ah-zoo-le-zhoo ]

noun

, plural a·zu·le·jos [ah-soo-, le, -haws, ah-thoo-, ah-zoo-, le, -zh, oo, sh].

1. (in Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries) a glazed and painted tile used as a wainscot or facing.

Word History and Origins

Origin of azulejo¹

1835–45; < Spanish: blue tile, derivative of azul blue

Example Sentences

Portuguese azulejo tiles cover the floor, and there’s an upstairs cocktail bar.

From New York Times

Although quieter in the wake of COVID-19, without groups of visitors peeking in at the process, the country’s azulejo workshops continue to reproduce classics and devise new patterns, both for local and international admirers.

From National Geographic

While tiles in Porto and the north display a preference for relief, the multitude of azulejo patterns throughout the country hasn’t muted a strong storytelling dimension or a love for customized panels.

From National Geographic

At the helm of the Museu Nacional do Azulejo in Lisbon, Maria Antónia Pinto de Matos cringes every time she has to translate the word azulejo.

From National Geographic

“Tile” says nothing of the azulejo’s artistry, detail, and continuous evolution in both technique and aesthetic; nor can it convey how azulejos are as much about light and reflection as patterns or colors.

From National Geographic