Spanish food vocabulary covering essential nouns, verbs, and adjectives from staple ingredients to common kitchen utensils and dining expressions.
Building a solid foundation in Spanish food vocabulary is key to navigating grocery stores, kitchens, and restaurants with confidence. This guide covers essential nouns for common ingredients and dishes, verbs for cooking and eating, and adjectives for describing flavors and textures. Each section includes example sentences to help you see the words in context. Whether you’re cooking at home or ordering out, these words will fuel your Spanish-speaking journey.
These are some of the most common food-related nouns you’ll encounter in Spanish, spanning fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, and more. These words are essential for reading recipes, shopping, and talking about meals.
| Spanish Noun | Singular | Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| la manzana | manzana | manzanas | Como una manzana todos los días. | I eat an apple every day. |
| el pan | pan | panes | Quiero un pedazo de pan. | I want a piece of bread. |
| el pollo | pollo | pollos | El pollo está en el horno. | The chicken is in the oven. |
| la leche | leche | - | Bebo leche en el desayuno. | I drink milk at breakfast. |
| el arroz | arroz | - | Cocino arroz para la cena. | I cook rice for dinner. |
| el tomate | tomate | tomates | Pongo tomate en la ensalada. | I put tomato in the salad. |
| el huevo | huevo | huevos | Necesito tres huevos. | I need three eggs. |
| la mantequilla | mantequilla | - | Uso mantequilla en el pan. | I use butter on the bread. |
| el queso | queso | quesos | El queso es muy sabroso. | The cheese is very tasty. |
| la cebolla | cebolla | cebollas | Corto una cebolla grande. | I cut a big onion. |
El ___ está en el horno.
Which Spanish word means 'chicken'?
pollo
The Spanish word for 'chicken' is 'pollo'. The sentence means 'The chicken is in the oven.'
Quiero un pedazo de ___.
Which Spanish word means 'bread'?
pan
The Spanish word for 'bread' is 'pan'. The sentence means 'I want a piece of bread.'
These verbs will help you describe the process of preparing and cooking food, whether you’re following a recipe or explaining what you did in the kitchen.
| Spanish Verb | English Verb | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| cocinar | to cook | Me gusta cocinar pasta. | I like to cook pasta. |
| cortar | to cut | Corta las verduras en trozos. | Cut the vegetables into pieces. |
| mezclar | to mix | Mezcla la harina y el azúcar. | Mix the flour and sugar. |
| hervir | to boil | Hierve el agua por cinco minutos. | Boil the water for five minutes. |
| freír | to fry | Frío los huevos en aceite. | I fry the eggs in oil. |
| hornear | to bake | Horneo un pastel de chocolate. | I bake a chocolate cake. |
| probar | to taste | Prueba la sopa antes de servir. | Taste the soup before serving. |
| agregar | to add | Agrega sal al gusto. | Add salt to taste. |
| pelar | to peel | Pela las manzanas. | Peel the apples. |
| remover | to stir | Remueve la salsa constantemente. | Stir the sauce constantly. |
Use these adjectives to describe the taste, texture, and appearance of food. They’ll help you express your preferences and be more specific when ordering or talking about meals.
| Spanish Adjective | English Adjective | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| delicioso/a | delicious | Este postre es delicioso. | This dessert is delicious. |
| dulce | sweet | La fruta está muy dulce. | The fruit is very sweet. |
| salado/a | salty | El queso está un poco salado. | The cheese is a bit salty. |
| amargo/a | bitter | El café está amargo hoy. | The coffee is bitter today. |
| ácido/a | sour | El jugo de naranja es ácido. | The orange juice is sour. |
| fresco/a | fresh | La ensalada está muy fresca. | The salad is very fresh. |
| crujiente | crunchy | Me gustan las manzanas crujientes. | I like crunchy apples. |
| caliente | hot | La sopa está caliente. | The soup is hot. |
| frío/a | cold | Quiero una bebida fría. | I want a cold drink. |
| cremoso/a | creamy | El yogur es cremoso. | The yogurt is creamy. |
These are some of the most common tools you’ll find in a Spanish-speaking kitchen. Knowing these words will help you follow recipes and ask for the right equipment.
| Spanish Utensil | English Utensil | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| el cuchillo | knife | Usa el cuchillo para cortar. | Use the knife to cut. |
| la cuchara | spoon | Toma una cucharada de azúcar. | Take a spoonful of sugar. |
| el tenedor | fork | Come con tenedor, no con manos. | Eat with a fork, not with your hands. |
| la olla | pot | La olla está en la estufa. | The pot is on the stove. |
| la sartén | frying pan | Fríe los huevos en la sartén. | Fry the eggs in the pan. |
| el vaso | glass | Quiero un vaso de agua. | I want a glass of water. |
| el plato | plate | Pon la comida en el plato. | Put the food on the plate. |
| el tazón | bowl | Sirve la sopa en un tazón. | Serve the soup in a bowl. |
| el rallador | grater | Ralla el queso para la pasta. | Grate the cheese for the pasta. |
| el cucharón | ladle | Usa el cucharón para servir. | Use the ladle to serve. |
These common expressions will help you navigate mealtime conversations, whether you’re ordering at a restaurant, making a toast, or talking about your appetite.
| Spanish Phrase | English Phrase | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¡Buen provecho! | Enjoy your meal! | ¡Buen provecho a todos! | Enjoy your meal, everyone! |
| ¿Qué desea? | What would you like? | ¿Qué desea beber? | What would you like to drink? |
| La cuenta, por favor. | The check, please. | La cuenta, por favor. | The check, please. |
| Tengo hambre. | I’m hungry. | Tengo mucha hambre hoy. | I’m very hungry today. |
| Estoy lleno/a. | I’m full. | Gracias, ya estoy llena. | Thanks, I’m full now. |
| ¿Me trae...? | Can you bring me...? | ¿Me trae una botella de agua? | Can you bring me a bottle of water? |
| Está delicioso. | It’s delicious. | Este pastel está delicioso. | This cake is delicious. |
| Sin hielo, por favor. | No ice, please. | Quiero el jugo sin hielo, por favor. | I want the juice without ice, please. |
| ¿Algo más? | Anything else? | ¿Algo más con su pedido? | Anything else with your order? |
| Llevar para casa | Take out | Quiero llevar la comida para casa. | I want to take the food home. |
With this foundational Spanish food vocabulary, you’re ready to explore markets, cooking, and dining experiences with greater confidence. ¡Buen provecho!
Flashcards (1 of 50)
- Singular: manzana
- Plural: manzanas
- English Example: I eat an apple every day.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
