The words for food and drinks appear in markets, restaurants, and homes. Comida names what is eaten in general, and bebida names what is drunk. In a simple conversation you can say quiero comida, quiero una bebida or name the product directly: pan, agua, pollo, café. In a shopping list, in a menu, or on the table, these words function as a base to order, recognize, and choose. They also help talk about what is in the fridge, in the kitchen, or in a bag of Compras.

To talk about the times you eat, use desayuno, comida, almuerzo, cena and merienda. Desayuno is the first meal of the day. Comida and almuerzo name the main midday meal, depending on the country. Cena is the evening meal. Merienda is a small bite between meals, such as a fruit, a cookie, or a yogurt. You can say tomo café en el desayuno, como arroz en la comida or cenamos tarde. In scheduling contexts, these words are used very frequently at home, at work, and in a restaurant.

comidabocadillosobremesabanqueteayunodesayunoalmuerzotentempiémeriendacena

---

Es el tiempo tranquilo después de comer para charlarEs la última comida del día y suele ser más ligeraEs la primera comida del día y suele tomarse por la mañanaEs un pan relleno de comida que se come con la manoEs la comida principal del día en muchos países hispanosEs una pequeña comida entre horas para quitar el hambreEs el tiempo sin comer durante varias horasEs una comida grande y festiva con mucha comidaEs la comida del mediodía y a menudo es la más completaEs un snack pequeño que se come rápido

Vocabulary of daily meals

Word	Definition
desayuno	It is the first meal of the day and is usually eaten in the morning.
almuerzo	It is the midday meal and is often the most complete.
comida	It is the main meal of the day in many Spanish-speaking countries.
cena	It is the last meal of the day and tends to be lighter.
merienda	It is a small meal between meals to stave off hunger.
bocadillo	It is a bread filled with food that is eaten by hand.
tentempié	It is a small snack eaten quickly.
sobremesa	It is the quiet time after a meal to chat.
ayuno	It is the time without eating for several hours.
banquete	It is a large festive meal with lots of food.

Scramble

The most common drinks are agua, café, té, jugo, leche and refresco. Agua is the basic option in almost any place. Café and té appear a lot at breakfasts and after meals. Jugo is drunk with fruit, and leche is usually paired with cereals, coffee, or chocolate. Refresco is a carbonated, sweet beverage. You can order un agua, un café or un jugo de naranja. If you want to talk about what you drink every day, these words also fit with verbs like tomar and beber.

refrescohorchatacervezajugolechecaféaguatévinobatido

---

Es una bebida alcohólica hecha con uvasEs una infusión caliente que se prepara con hojasEs una bebida hecha de fruta exprimida o licuadaEs una bebida dulce y fresca muy popular en algunas zonasEs una bebida espesa hecha con fruta o heladoEs un líquido blanco que viene de animales o versiones vegetalesEs una bebida fría y dulce con gas o sabor intensoEs una bebida caliente hecha con granos tostadosEs la bebida más básica y puede ser natural o con gasEs una bebida alcohólica muy común en reuniones

Vocabulary of common drinks

Word	Definition
agua	It is the most basic drink and can be still or carbonated.
café	It is a hot drink made with roasted beans.
té	It is a hot infusion prepared with leaves.
jugo	It is a fruit drink pressed or blended.
leche	It is a white liquid that comes from animals or plant versions.
refresco	It is a cold and sweet drink with gas or strong flavor.
batido	It is a thick drink made with fruit or ice cream.
vino	It is an alcoholic drink made with grapes.
cerveza	It is a very common alcoholic drink at gatherings.
horchata	It is a sweet and refreshing drink very popular in some areas.

Scramble

In a fruit shop or in the kitchen, it helps to recognize manzana, banana, naranja, uva, fresa, tomate, zanahoria, lechuga, cebolla and papa. Fruits are usually eaten on their own or in desserts, while vegetables appear in salads, soups, and stews. You can say quiero una manzana, hay tomates en la ensalada or compré zanahorias. In a menu, these words help understand ingredients and order simple dishes, such as a salad of Hogar y Muebles at home or a soup with vegetables.

fresapepinomanzanatomatecebollanaranjaperaplátanozanahorialechuga

---

Es una fruta dulce con forma ancha en la baseEs una verdura de hojas que se come crudaEs una verdura fresca que suele ir en ensaladasEs una fruta redonda que puede ser roja o verdeEs una verdura naranja que suele comerse cruda o cocidaEs una verdura roja muy usada en ensaladas y salsasEs una fruta cítrica con pulpa jugosaEs una fruta pequeña de color rojo y sabor dulceEs una verdura de sabor fuerte que da gusto a muchos platosEs una fruta alargada y suave por dentro

Vocabulary of common fruits and vegetables

Word	Definition
manzana	It is a round fruit that can be red or green.
plátano	It is a long, soft fruit inside.
naranja	It is a citrus fruit with juicy pulp.
fresa	It is a small fruit red in color with a sweet flavor.
pera	It is a sweet fruit with a wide base.
tomate	It is a red vegetable used a lot in salads and sauces.
lechuga	It is a leafy vegetable eaten raw.
zanahoria	It is an orange vegetable usually eaten raw or cooked.
cebolla	It is a strong-flavored vegetable that adds flavor to many dishes.
pepino	It is a fresh vegetable that is good in salads.

Scramble

For everyday meals, the most useful words are pollo, carne, cerdo, pescado, atún, huevo and frijoles. Pollo, carne and cerdo name very common meats. Pescado and atún appear in seafood dishes or in salads. Huevo is used for breakfasts, tortillas, and quick dishes. Frijoles are a very common plant protein in many countries. You can say como pollo, quiero pescado or hay huevos para el desayuno. These words pair easily with preparations like a la plancha, frito or cocido.

pescadotofucorderoatúnjamónhuevosalchichacarnepollomarisco

---

Es un pescado que se usa mucho en ensaladas y bocadillosEs una proteína vegetal hecha con sojaEs la parte comestible que viene de animales terrestresEs una carne de oveja joven con sabor especialEs un alimento del mar como gambas o mejillonesEs una carne curada que se come en lonchas finasEs un alimento redondo que suele cocinarse de varias manerasEs una pieza de carne preparada que suele comerse cocida o asadaEs una carne blanca muy común y suaveEs una proteína del mar que puede prepararse de muchas formas

Vocabulary of meats and proteins

Word	Definition
pollo	It is a white meat that is very common and tender.
carne	It is the edible part that comes from land animals.
pescado	It is a protein from the sea that can be prepared in many ways.
atún	It is a fish used a lot in salads and sandwiches.
huevo	It is a round food that is usually cooked in several ways.
jamón	It is a cured meat eaten in thin slices.
salchicha	It is a prepared piece of meat usually eaten boiled or grilled.
cordero	It is a young sheep meat with a special flavor.
marisco	It is a seafood such as shrimp or mussels.
tofu	It is a vegetable protein made from soy.

Scramble

Many dishes come with a side. The most common are pan, arroz, pasta, papas, ensalada and sopa. Pan appears at breakfasts, snacks, and meals. Arroz and pasta are usually with meats or vegetables. Papas can be fried, boiled, or baked. Ensalada and sopa work as a side or as a light main dish. You can say quiero arroz con pollo, comí pasta con salsa or la sopa tiene verduras. These words also appear on simple menus and in weekly food shopping.

pastapatatatortillafrijolarrozpurésopaensaladapanmaíz

---

Es un plato líquido o semilíquido que se toma calienteEs un alimento de harina que aparece en muchas recetasEs un tubérculo muy común en guisos y purésEs una preparación blanda hecha al machacar un alimentoEs un grano cocido que acompaña muchos platosEs un alimento horneado hecho con harina y aguaEs una mezcla de huevo cocinado que puede llevar otros ingredientesEs un grano amarillo que se usa entero o molidoEs una legumbre cocida muy usada como acompañamientoEs una mezcla de verduras servida normalmente fría

Vocabulary of common side dishes

Word	Definition
pan	It is a baked food made with flour and water.
arroz	It is a cooked grain that accompanies many dishes.
pasta	It is a wheat-based food that appears in many recipes.
patata	It is a tubercle common in stews and mashed potatoes.
ensalada	It is a mixture of vegetables normally served cold.
puré	It is a soft preparation made by mashing a food.
tortilla	It is a mixture of cooked egg that can include other ingredients.
sopa	It is a liquid or semi-liquid dish eaten hot.
frijol	It is a cooked legume used as a side.
maíz	It is a yellow grain used whole or ground.

Scramble

Among the frequent dairy products and sweets are leche, queso, yogur, mantequilla, pastel, helado, galletas and chocolate. Leche, queso, yogur and mantequilla are used in breakfasts, snacks, and recipes. Pastel and helado are common desserts at celebrations or after a meal. Galletas and chocolate are eaten as a snack or dessert. You can order un yogur, un trozo de pastel or unas galletas con chocolate. In a shop or cafe, these words appear alongside others from Dinero y Finanzas when you ask for the price.

yogurchocolatemantequillagalletapastelflannatillaheladoquesocrema

---

Es un dulce pequeño y seco que se come como meriendaEs un dulce hecho con cacao o una bebida de ese saborEs una parte espesa de la leche o un postre suaveEs un dulce grande que se suele servir en porcionesEs un postre frío que puede tener muchos saboresEs un postre suave hecho con huevo y lecheEs un postre cremoso que se come frío o templadoEs un lácteo cremoso que suele comerse fríoEs un lácteo sólido hecho con leche cuajadaEs un lácteo untuoso que se usa para cocinar o untar

Vocabulary of dairy and desserts

Word	Definition
queso	It is a solid dairy product made from curdled milk.
yogur	It is a creamy dairy that is usually eaten cold.
mantequilla	It is a creamy dairy used for cooking or spreading.
crema	It is a thick part of milk or a smooth dessert.
helado	It is a cold dessert that can have many flavors.
pastel	It is a large cake usually served in slices.
galleta	It is a small, dry cookie eaten as a snack.
chocolate	It is a sweet made with cacao or a drink of that flavor.
flan	It is a soft dessert made with eggs and milk.
natilla	It is a creamy dessert eaten cold or warm.

Scramble

In a restaurant, you first look at the menú. Then you can order the plato del día, an entrada, a plato principal or a postre. Entrada is what you eat before the main course, such as a soup or a salad. Plato del día is the option the restaurant prepares that day. Postre is the sweet course at the end. To order, use phrases like quiero la sopa, ¿qué recomienda? or la cuenta, por favor. You can also say sin hielo or para llevar when needed.

Ways to order in restaurants

Usage	Explanation
Request the menu	Used when you want to see the available dishes before deciding.
Ask for a recommendation	Used to ask for help and choose something the staff suggests.
Choose an appetizer	Used to indicate the first course of a full meal.
Request the main dish	Used to name the main course on the menu.
Choose a dessert	Used to ask for something sweet at the end of the meal.
Ask for the bill	Used at the end to ask for the total to pay.
Ask for takeout	Used when you want food to go.
Ask politely	Used to sound polite and make the request with courtesy.

To express preferences, use me gusta and no me gusta. You can say me gusta el café, no me gusta el pescado or me gustan las frutas. The verb changes according to the thing you like, but the basic structure remains clear. For restrictions, use words like sin gluten and vegetariano. Sin gluten indicates a food does not contain gluten. Vegetariano is used for food that does not contain meat. In a restaurant you can say quiero una opción vegetariana or necesito pan sin gluten. In a conversation about food, these expressions are used a lot to choose conveniently and avoid dishes you don’t want.

Ways to express tastes and restrictions

Usage	Explanation
Positive taste	Used to say that something pleases or you love it.
Negative taste	Used to say that something does not please you.
Strong preference	Used to express that something you love very much.
Strong aversion	Used to show that something disgusts you a lot.
Food restriction	Used to say a food cannot be eaten for health or choice.
Vegetarian option	Used to indicate that a dish contains no meat or fish.
Lactose intolerance	Used to warn that milk may upset you.
Flavor preference	Used to talk about whether you prefer something sweet, salty, or spicy.

Some words vary by country. Jugo and zumo name the same drink, but jugo is used a lot in the Americas and zumo in Spain. Refresco and gaseosa can also refer to a carbonated, sugary drink. In some places, comida can mean the midday meal, while in others almuerzo is preferred. Listening to these variants helps recognize the meaning even if the word changes. On a trip, in a menu, or in a conversation with Ser Pan Comido, these differences appear frequently and it’s helpful to identify them quickly.

avenaarepagaseosarefrescozumojugo

---

En algunos lugares se usa para una bebida espesa o licuadaSe usa para una bebida dulce con gasSe usa para una bebida dulce con gasEs una torta de maíz muy común en la mesa diariaSe usa para nombrar la bebida de fruta exprimidaSe usa para nombrar la bebida de fruta exprimida

Regional variants of food and drink

Region	Variant	Definition	Example
México	jugo	It is used to name the fruit juice.	Quiero jugo de piña.I want jugo of pineapple.
España	zumo	It is used to name the fruit juice.	Tomo zumo de naranja.I drink zumo of orange.
México	refresco	It is used for a sweet carbonated drink.	Compré refresco para la fiesta.I bought refresco for the party.
España	gaseosa	It is used for a sweet carbonated drink.	Pide gaseosa con la comida.Ask for gaseosa with the meal.
Argentina	avena	In some places it is used for a thick or blended drink.	Desayuno avena con fruta.Breakfast avena with fruit.
Colombia	arepa	A very common corn cake on everyday table.	Desayuné arepa con queso.I had arepa with cheese for breakfast.

Scramble