Mexican Name Finder
Main dishSpanishSinaloa

Ceviche

"fish cured in citrus"

Also called Cebiche, Seviche.

Say it

seh·BEE·cheh

Where it comes from

Spanish ceviche (source disputed)

What Ceviche means

Ceviche is a Mexican main dish name of Spanish origin meaning "fish cured in citrus". It comes from Spanish ceviche (source disputed). It is pronounced seh-BEE-cheh, and it is most associated with Sinaloa.

Etymology disputed: proposals include Arabic sikbāj, a vinegar stew, Latin cibus, food, and Quechua siwichi. Mexican Pacific versions chop the fish far finer than Peruvian ones.

About this origin. The etymology is uncertain, disputed, or the name is a modern brand rather than an old word. The reading above is the best-supported one; food writing repeats stories that the dictionaries do not confirm.

This is a site about what Mexican words mean, so there is no recipe here. For the name itself: The plated dishes, most named for a cooking method or a place. Cochinita pibil is pork cooked in a píib, the Maya earth oven. Barbacoa gave English the word barbecue. Chiles en nogada is named for the walnut sauce that covers it.

Share card

Ceviche means fish cured in citrus

Related Mexican food names

  • ChilorioMain dish

    pork cooked down in chile

    chee-LOH-ryohSpanish
    Spanish chile+-orioSinaloa
  • AguachileMain dish

    chile water

    ah-gwah-CHEE-lehSpanish
    Spanish agua+chileSinaloa
  • chiles in walnut sauce

    CHEE-les en noh-GAH-dahSpanish
    Puebla
  • ChoriquesoMain dish

    chorizo cheese

    choh-ree-KEH-sohSpanish
    northern Mexico
  • CochitoMain dish

    little pig

    koh-CHEE-tohSpanish
    Spanish cochino+-itoChiapas
  • DiscadaMain dish

    plough-disc cookout

    dees-KAH-dahSpanish
    northern Mexico
  • cowboy beans

    free-HOH-les CHAH-rosSpanish
    Spanish frijoles+charrosnorthern Mexico
  • well-fried beans

    free-HOH-les reh-FREE-tosSpanish
    Spanish frijoles+refritosnationwide

Browse all Mexican food names, or the name finder for people's names.