Food and Drink in English — Vocabulary and Usage

Food and Drink in English — Vocabulary and Usage — Go Loco

Meals

Meal words describe the main eating times of the day and the food usually eaten then. Breakfast is the first meal of the day, lunch is the midday meal, and dinner is the main evening meal in many places. Some speakers use supper for a lighter evening meal, and snack for food eaten between meals.

Word or Phrase	Definition	Example
Breakfast	The first meal of the day.	I eat breakfast early, and then I go to work.
Lunch	The meal eaten around midday.	We have lunch at noon, and then we rest.
Dinner	The main meal in the evening.	They eat dinner at six, and the family talks together.
Snack	A small amount of food between meals.	I want a snack, because I am a little hungry.
Supper	A light evening meal in some regions.	We had supper late, because the guests arrived after dark.
Brunch	A meal that combines breakfast and lunch.	We eat brunch on Sundays, and we stay at home.
Noon	Twelve o clock in the day.	Lunch is at noon, and the office is quiet.
Morning	The early part of the day.	Breakfast tastes best in the morning, when I am hungry.
Evening	The time near the end of the day.	Dinner is in the evening, when everyone is free.

Access more practice exercises!

Access more practice exercises and the full course!

Food Groups

Food group words help describe what a meal contains and how different foods are organized in shops and menus. Fruit, vegetables, grains, meat, fish, dairy, and desserts are common categories in everyday English. These categories help when planning meals, reading recipes, or choosing items in a supermarket.

Word or Phrase	Definition	Example
Fruit	Sweet foods that grow from plants and are often eaten raw.	Fruit is fresh, and it tastes sweet.
Vegetable	A plant food eaten in many savory dishes.	Vegetables are healthy, and they add color to the plate.
Grain	A food such as rice, wheat, or oats.	Grains fill you up, and they are used in many meals.
Meat	Food from animals such as beef, chicken, or pork.	Meat is cooked carefully, and it is served hot.
Fish	An animal from water that people eat as food.	Fish is popular near the coast, and it can be grilled.
Dairy	Food made from milk, such as cheese or yogurt.	Dairy is rich, and some people avoid it.
Dessert	Sweet food eaten after the main meal.	Dessert is served last, and everyone smiles.
Rice	A grain that is eaten in many countries.	Rice is simple, and it goes with vegetables.
Bread	A common food made from flour and baked.	Bread is warm, and it smells good.

Access more practice exercises!

Access more practice exercises and the full course!

Groceries

Grocery shopping uses everyday words for supermarket items, sections, and simple requests. A shopper may ask where something is, look for a product, or choose between sizes and amounts. These words connect naturally with Shopping and with practical food labels in stores.

Word or Phrase	Definition	Example
Supermarket	A large shop that sells food and household goods.	The supermarket is busy, and I buy fruit there.
Produce	Fresh fruits and vegetables in a store.	The produce section looks bright, and the lettuce is crisp.
Butcher	The place or person that sells meat.	The butcher cuts the meat, and he answers questions.
Dairy section	The part of a shop that sells milk products.	The dairy section has cheese, and the yogurt is cold.
Bakery	The place where bread and cakes are sold.	The bakery smells good, and the bread is fresh.
Basket	A small container for carrying shopping items.	I take a basket, because I only need a few things.
Packet	A wrapped container of a product.	I buy a packet of pasta, and I cook it tonight.
Receipt	The paper that shows what you bought and how much it cost.	I keep the receipt, because I may need it later.
Where is	A phrase used to ask for the location of something.	Where is the sugar, and can you show me the aisle?

Access more practice exercises!

Access more practice exercises and the full course!

Beverages

Beverage words cover hot drinks, cold drinks, and common everyday choices at home, in cafés, and in restaurants. Water is the most basic drink, while tea, coffee, juice, and soft drinks are common in many countries. Alcoholic drinks such as wine and beer are part of some social meals, but their use depends on local custom and personal choice.

Word or Phrase	Definition	Example
Water	A clear drink with no flavor.	Water is cold, and I drink it all day.
Juice	A drink made from fruit.	Juice is sweet, and the orange flavor is strong.
Tea	A hot drink made with leaves and hot water.	Tea is warm, and it tastes calm and light.
Coffee	A hot drink made from roasted beans.	Coffee is strong, and many people drink it in the morning.
Cold drink	A drink served chilled.	A cold drink is good, because the weather is hot.
Hot drink	A drink served warm or hot.	A hot drink feels nice, because it is a rainy day.
Soft drink	A sweet non alcoholic fizzy drink.	Soft drinks are common, and children often like them.
Wine	An alcoholic drink made from grapes.	Wine is served with dinner, and some guests prefer red.
Beer	An alcoholic drink made from grains.	Beer is cold, and adults may order it with food.

Access more practice exercises!

Access more practice exercises and the full course!

Eating Out

Eating out vocabulary helps with menus, ordering, polite requests, and paying in cafés and restaurants. Polite language is common in service settings, while casual phrases are more common with friends. Many speakers also use different terms for restaurant meals, bills, and bookings depending on region and register.

Word or Phrase	Definition	Example
Menu	A list of food and drinks offered in a restaurant.	The menu is long, and I choose soup.
Order	To ask for food or to request a dish.	I order the fish, because it sounds fresh.
Table	The place where people sit and eat.	We have a table near the window, and it is quiet.
Bill	The paper that shows the cost of the meal.	Could we have the bill, because we are ready to leave?
Reservation	A booking for a table at a restaurant.	We make a reservation, because the place is popular.
Starter	The first course of a meal.	I choose a starter, and then I ask for pasta.
Main course	The largest part of a meal.	The main course is pasta, and it is very filling.
Dessert menu	The part of the menu with sweet dishes.	The dessert menu looks tempting, and the cake is fresh.
Could I have	A polite phrase used when asking for something.	Could I have the soup, please, because I am very hungry?

Access more practice exercises!

Access more practice exercises and the full course!

Cooking Verbs

Cooking verbs describe the actions people do in the kitchen when preparing food. These words are common in recipes, instructions, and home conversations about meals. They also help learners understand food preparation in Everyday Life and related home routines.

Word or Phrase	Definition	Example
Cook	To prepare food with heat.	I cook rice, and the kitchen smells nice.
Boil	To heat liquid until bubbles form.	We boil water, and then we make tea.
Fry	To cook food in hot oil or fat.	She fries eggs, and the pan gets hot.
Bake	To cook food in an oven.	They bake bread, and it rises well.
Chop	To cut food into small pieces.	I chop onions, and I work carefully.
Mix	To combine ingredients together.	We mix flour and water, and the dough becomes soft.
Serve	To give food to people at a table.	He serves the soup, and everyone starts eating.
Season	To add salt, herbs, or spices to food.	She seasons the vegetables, and they taste better.
Stir	To move food or liquid around with a spoon.	Stir the sauce, because it can stick to the pan.

Access more practice exercises!

Access more practice exercises and the full course!

Amounts

Quantity words are useful for recipes, shopping lists, and talking about how much food to buy or prepare. English often uses different measurement words for liquid, solid, and countable items. These expressions also appear in recipes, food labels, and market conversations.

Word or Phrase	Definition	Example
Cup	A common unit for measuring liquid or dry ingredients.	Add one cup of milk, and then stir the batter.
Spoon	A small tool and a small unit of amount.	Use one spoon of sugar, because the tea is bitter.
Slice	A thin piece cut from a larger food.	I want a slice of cake, and it looks delicious.
Packet	A small package of food.	Buy a packet of rice, and put it in the cupboard.
Kilo	A unit for measuring weight.	I need one kilo of apples, and I will pay at the counter.
Amount	How much of something there is.	The amount of salt is small, because the soup is already tasty.
Bottle	A container used for liquids.	We need a bottle of water, and the day is hot.
Pinch	A very small amount.	Add a pinch of salt, because the sauce needs flavor.
Tablespoon	A larger spoon measure used in recipes.	Use a tablespoon of oil, and then heat the pan.

Access more practice exercises!

Access more practice exercises and the full course!

Taste

Taste and texture words describe how food feels and how it tastes in the mouth. These adjectives are useful when talking about preferences, recipes, or restaurant reviews. They work especially well with Descriptive Adjectives.

Word or Phrase	Definition	Example
Sweet	Having the taste of sugar or dessert.	The cake is sweet, and I like it very much.
Sour	Having a sharp, acidic taste.	The lemon is sour, and it makes my mouth water.
Bitter	Having a strong taste that is not sweet.	Coffee can be bitter, and some people add sugar.
Salty	Having the taste of salt.	The soup is salty, so I drink some water.
Spicy	Having a hot flavor from peppers or spices.	The curry is spicy, and I need a drink.
Crunchy	Making a crisp sound when eaten.	The carrots are crunchy, and they taste fresh.
Creamy	Smooth and rich like cream.	The sauce is creamy, and it coats the pasta.
Soft	Easy to press or bite.	The bread is soft, and the butter melts on it.
Tough	Hard to chew.	The meat is tough, so I eat slowly.

Access more practice exercises!

Access more practice exercises and the full course!

Diet Needs

Dietary words explain what people can or cannot eat for health, belief, or personal choice. These terms are common on menus, food labels, and in conversations about allergies or restrictions. They are especially important when ordering food or checking ingredients in stores and restaurants.

Word or Phrase	Definition	Example
Vegetarian	A person who does not eat meat.	She is vegetarian, so she chooses the vegetable pasta.
Vegan	A person who avoids animal products.	He is vegan, and he checks the ingredients carefully.
Lactose free	Without lactose from milk.	This yogurt is lactose free, so it suits some people.
Gluten free	Without gluten from wheat and similar grains.	The bread is gluten free, and many diners ask for it.
Allergic	Having a medical reaction to something.	I am allergic to peanuts, so I must be careful.
Allergy	A medical condition caused by a harmful reaction.	Her allergy is serious, and the staff must know.
Ingredients	The parts used to make a food.	I read the ingredients, because I want to avoid milk.
Avoid	To stay away from something.	I avoid shellfish, because it makes me sick.
Suitable	Right for a person or situation.	This meal is suitable, because it has no dairy.

Access more practice exercises!

Access more practice exercises and the full course!

Food Culture

Food words also carry cultural meaning, and many dishes reflect local ingredients, customs, and family routines. Some common expressions use food imagery to describe life, such as saying something is not your cup of tea or that a person is the icing on the cake. Regional vocabulary also changes, so learners should notice local preferences in words for biscuits, crisps, and meal times.

Region	Word or Phrase	Regional Definition	Example
Britain	Biscuit	A sweet or plain baked snack is usually called a biscuit.	I had a biscuit with tea, and it was very nice.
United States	Cookie	A sweet baked snack is usually called a cookie.	She bought a cookie, and she ate it after lunch.
Britain	Chips	Thick fried potato pieces are usually called chips.	We ate chips with fish, and the meal was hot.
United States	Fries	Thin fried potato pieces are usually called fries.	He ordered fries, and he added ketchup.
Britain	Crisps	Thin salty potato snacks are usually called crisps.	I opened a bag of crisps, and it was empty quickly.
United States	Chips	Thin salty potato snacks are usually called chips.	They shared chips, and they watched a film.
Britain	Supper	This word can mean the evening meal in some places.	We had supper early, and then we went home.
United States	Dinner	This word usually means the main evening meal.	Dinner is at seven, and the table is ready.
General	Not my cup of tea	A phrase meaning something is not liked or preferred.	The dish is not my cup of tea, because it is too spicy.

Access more practice exercises!

Access more practice exercises and the full course!

Food and Drink in EnglishA1

Translations

Prerequisites

Overview

Meals

Food Groups

Groceries

Beverages

Eating Out

Cooking Verbs

Amounts

Taste

Diet Needs

Food Culture

Review

Prerequisites

Complementary Modules

Suggested Modules: A1

Go Loco