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atún

ah-TOONaˈtun

“atún” means “tuna” in Spanish (refers to both the living fish and the food product).

tuna

NounmA1
Spain
A large, sleek blue and silver tuna fish swimming in the deep blue ocean.

📝 In Action

Prefiero el atún en lata para la ensalada.

A1

I prefer canned tuna for the salad.

El atún rojo es muy caro en este restaurante.

B1

The bluefin tuna is very expensive in this restaurant.

¿Quieres un bocadillo de atún?

A1

Do you want a tuna sandwich?

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • atún en lata – canned tuna
  • ensalada de atún – tuna salad
  • atún claro – light tuna

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser un atún – to be a bit clueless or slow to understand (used in some Latin American regions)

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: atún

Question 1 of 1

What happens to the accent mark when you make 'atún' plural?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
túnido(tuna-like fish) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
comúnbetúnsegún
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Arabic word 'al-tūn,' which was borrowed from the Latin word 'thunnus,' which in turn came from a Greek word meaning 'to rush or dart.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: tunaFrench: thonItalian: tonno

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'atún' a common ingredient in Spanish tapas?

Yes! You will often find it in 'empanadillas' (small savory pastries), 'ensaladilla rusa' (potato salad), or served as 'mojama' (salt-cured tuna fillet).

Does the word change gender if the fish is female?

No, it is a fixed masculine noun. You always say 'el atún' regardless of the actual sex of the fish.