frijol

[ free-hohl, free-hohl; Spanish free-hawl ]

noun

, plural fri·jo·les [free, -hohlz, free-, hoh, -leez, f, r, ee-, haw, -les].

1. any bean of the genus Phaseolus, especially the kidney bean, the seeds of which are used for food in Mexico, in the southwestern U.S., etc.

frijol

/ ˈfriːhəʊl; friˈxol /

noun

1. a variety of bean, esp of the French bean, extensively cultivated for food in Mexico

Word History and Origins

Origin of frijol¹

1570–80; < Spanish, earlier fresol, fesol < a dialectal source, akin to Galician freixó, feixoo, earlier feijoo < Latin faseolus; feijoada

Word History and Origins

Origin of frijol¹

C16: from Spanish, ultimately from Latin phaseolus , diminutive of phasēlus , from Greek phasēlos bean with edible pod

Example Sentences

“Watch the frijoles face the habichuelas. A battle for bean name begins! Pick your side!”

From Literature

Didn’t they understand that even when they have little, Oaxacans will always have tortillas con frijoles y mole to offer?

From Los Angeles Times

In his later years, Salvador loved to share his secret for a long life: frijoles de la olla, pinto beans in broth with radish and cilantro on the side.

From Los Angeles Times

I longed for the smell and taste of home cooking, especially flour tortillas, frijoles de la olla, and carne con chile.

From Literature

To these, from a clay sartén, or pan, she added the softest, mashiest frijoles I had ever seen, then diluted the mixture with water.

From New York Times