The name of the popular Mexican food item, “burrito,” translates to “little donkey” in Spanish. This diminutive form suggests something small and perhaps even resembling a donkey’s rolled-up pack or bedroll. The dish, consisting of a flour tortilla tightly wrapped around various fillings, mirrors this visual similarity.
The origin of the term is debated, but several theories connect it to the animal. One account suggests that during the Mexican Revolution, a man named Juan Mndez used a donkey to transport and sell food wrapped in large flour tortillas. These food bundles, resembling the packs carried by donkeys, purportedly became known as burritos. Another proposition links the name to the perceived resemblance of the rolled tortilla to the bedrolls often carried by donkeys in rural areas.
