Skip to content

tabú

taboo

noun tah-BOO Rare

Origin: from Tongan tapu via English taboo

Usage Note

Tabú is a loanword from Polynesian via English and retains the written accent on the final syllable. It functions as both noun and adjective (un tema tabú — a taboo subject). The plural is tabúes, preserving the accent.

Examples

"La muerte es un tabú en muchas conversaciones."

Natural Translation

Death is a taboo in many conversations.

Explore Spanish by topic