criollo

[ kree-oh-loh; Spanish kree-aw-yaw ]

noun

, plural cri·ol·los [kree-, oh, -lohz, k, r, ee-, aw, -yaws].

1. a person born in Spanish America but of European, usually Spanish, ancestry. Compare Creole ( def 1 ).
2. a domestic animal of any of several strains or breeds developed in Latin America.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a criollo or criollos.

criollo

/ kriːˈəʊləʊ; ˈkrjoʎo /

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Latin America of European descent, esp of Spanish descent
2. 1. any of various South American breeds of domestic animal
   2. ( as modifier )

      a criollo pony

3. a high-quality variety of cocoa

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a criollo or criollos

Word History and Origins

Origin of criollo¹

From Spanish, dating back to 1905–10; Creole

Word History and Origins

Origin of criollo¹

Spanish: native; see creole

Example Sentences

According to Chávez, these priests visited remote towns and sought to understand the worldview of the “criollo” people, whose Indigenous spiritual practices intertwined with new Christian customs and beliefs.

From Seattle Times

The mound of mashed fried plantains, draped with clean curls of shrimp sauteed in criollo sauce, is unapologetically — you might say gloriously — starchy.

From Washington Post

In Venezuela, he wafts a chocolate bar made with rare criollo under the reader’s nose.

From New York Times

Her Cuban-American family bastes the turkey in a mojo criollo marinade.

From Seattle Times

It was at coastal haciendas that slaves began to prepare some of Peru's first criollo dishes, using ingredients like rice, onions, and limes that had been introduced via Spain's colonial foodways.

From Salon