Why can't I find tamale in the Spanish dictionary on line?

Question

Is it a feminine noun?

Answer 1

Basically, it's misspelled. It is TAMAL in singular; in plural, you say TAMALES.

Answer 2

That's right. The singular is Tamal.
Besides, tamal is a word that comes from the Nahuatl language (Tamalli), it's not Spanish.
A tamal is a steam-cooked meal dough with or without filling.
In Spanish the definition would be: Pasta de maíz envuelta en hojas de maíz o plátano con o sin relleno, y cocida al vapor.

Answer 3

The answers above are referred to "sweet corn cake" better known in South America as "humitas".
A tamale (in Spanish "tamal") is a wet tender powdered corn mass with a core of seasoned meat & mate stuff, wrapped in a large green leaf, and cooked in steam.
Each Latin American country has its own version of TAMAL

Answer 4

The online English-Spanish; Spanish -English dictionaries seem to be based on European (Castilian) Spanish and Latin American Spanish words often get short shrift.

Still, you can often google up words from the various Latin American countries if you want to, as well as the slang words. There are all kinds of special dictionaries and glossaries for them.

Answer 5

Tamale is what it is. There is no translation. Like enchalada, taco, burrito. It's a noun.
Tamale is seasoned, shredded meat (beef, chicken or pork) that is wrapped in raw corn bread, then wrapped in corn husk and steamed until the corn bread is done.
You remove the corn husk, and have sort of a "hot pocket" looking thing. It's like moist bread on the outside, and the meat also says really moist and tender. They are really good. Especially if they are made by a native Mexican from a traditional recipe.

Answer 6

Marcelo´s is the right answer.