How to Say ‘Tamales are made with corn.’ in Mexican Spanish
Los tamales se hacen con maíz.
lohs tah-MAH-lehs seh AH-sehn kohn mah-EES
[lohs tah-MAH-lehs seh AH-sehn kohn mah-EES]
🇲🇽 In Mexico: Tamales are a common street breakfast in Mexico, often sold from carts in the morning. They're also a big homemade tradition around Christmas and on February 2.
Phrase Breakdown
Los tamales
lohs tah-MAH-lehs
Tamales
Say 'lohs tah-MAH-lehs'. The singular is 'tamal', not 'tamale'.
Los tamales verdes son ricos.
Green tamales are tasty.
Words in this phrase
Los
[lohs]
the
Definite article used to refer to a specific person or thing recognized by the speakers.
Los niños están en el parque.
The children are in the park.
tamales
[tah-MAH-lehs]
tamales
Corn dough filled with meat or other fillings, wrapped in a husk and steamed.
Mi abuela prepara tamales en Navidad.
My grandmother makes tamales at Christmas.
se hacen con maíz.
seh AH-sehn kohn mah-EES
are made with corn.
Say 'seh AH-sehn kohn mah-EES'. The 'h' is silent, and 'maíz' ends with an 's' sound.
Las tortillas se hacen con maíz.
Tortillas are made with corn.
Words in this phrase
se
[seh]
(passive marker)
Used with a verb to show an action done in general, like 'are made'.
Aquí se venden tacos.
Tacos are sold here.
hacen
[AH-sehn]
make / are made
Form of 'hacer' (to make/do); with 'se' it means 'are made'.
Las tortillas se hacen a mano.
The tortillas are made by hand.
con
[kohn]
with
Preposition meaning 'with'; shows accompaniment or a characteristic.
Con experiencia puedes aspirar a más.
With experience, you can aim for more.
maíz
[mah-EES]
corn
Corn or maize, the base of Mexican cuisine.
El maíz se usa para las tortillas.
Corn is used for tortillas.
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Lessons for Your Situation
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Moved to Mexico City for work and needed to get conversational fast. Two weeks of daily practice and I was ordering tacos and negotiating with my landlord in Spanish.”
David K., 35, Startup Founder
“I spent a month backpacking through Colombia and this app was a lifesaver. The lessons meant I could handle real situations from day one.”
Rachel T., 26, Travel Blogger
“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”
Alex M., 42, Software Engineer