Food in Spanish: 200+ Essential Words and Phrases for Beginners

Key takeaways

• Food vocabulary is one of the most practical areas of Spanish to learn first: it covers markets, restaurants, travel, daily conversations, and understanding menus anywhere in the Spanish-speaking world.
• This guide delivers 200+ food words and phrases across 12 categories, from fruits and vegetables to restaurant phrases and cooking methods, with regional notes where vocabulary varies between Spain and Latin America.
• Spanish food vocabulary has significant regional differences: the word for potato is papa in most of Latin America and patata in Spain; juice is zumo in Spain and jugo almost everywhere else.
• Practicing food vocabulary in real conversations with a Spanish tutor helps you understand menus, order confidently, and talk about food naturally rather than just translating word by word.

Food is where language learners get real fast results in Spanish. A restaurant, a market, a conversation about home cooking: all of these situations happen every day, and getting the vocabulary right means you can participate immediately.

Spanish food vocabulary is also a gateway to culture, since the differences between what people eat and how they talk about food reveal a lot about regional identity across Spain and Latin America.

The challenge is that Spanish food vocabulary varies significantly by country. The same fruit or vegetable can have two or three different names depending on where you are.

This guide covers 200+ food words and phrases in 12 categories: fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, dairy and eggs, bread and grains, drinks, condiments and spices, cooking methods, restaurant phrases, describing food, and meals and mealtimes. italki connects learners with Spanish-speaking tutors who can help you practice ordering, shopping, and talking about food naturally.

Find a Spanish teacher online and run a restaurant role-play or market conversation session using the vocabulary in this guide.

Fruits (las frutas)

Spanish	English	Notes
manzana	apple
naranja	orange
plátano / banana	banana	plátano (Spain, Mexico); banana (South America)
uva	grape
fresa / frutilla	strawberry	fresa (Spain, Mexico); frutilla (South America)
piña	pineapple
mango	mango
sandía	watermelon
melocotón / durazno	peach	melocotón (Spain); durazno (Latin America)
pera	pear
cereza	cherry
limón	lemon
lima	lime
coco	coconut
higo	fig
ciruela	plum
kiwi	kiwi
arándano	blueberry
frambuesa	raspberry
aguacate / palta	avocado	aguacate (Spain, Mexico, Central America); palta (South America)
papaya	papaya
maracuyá / fruta de la pasión	passion fruit
mandarina	mandarin / clementine

Vegetables (las verduras y legumbres)

Spanish	English	Notes
zanahoria	carrot
papa / patata	potato	papa (Latin America); patata (Spain)
tomate / jitomate	tomato	tomate (Spain, South America); jitomate (Mexico for red tomato)
cebolla	onion
ajo	garlic
pimiento / chile / ají	bell pepper / chili	pimiento (Spain, mild); chile (Mexico); ají (South America)
lechuga	lettuce
espinaca	spinach
brócoli	broccoli
pepino	cucumber
calabacín / zucchini	zucchini	calabacín (Spain); zucchini (Latin America)
maíz / elote / choclo	corn	maíz (general); elote (Mexico for corn on the cob); choclo (South America)
guisantes / arvejas / chícharos	peas	guisantes (Spain); arvejas (South America); chícharos (Mexico)
judías verdes / ejotes / chauchas	green beans	judías verdes (Spain); ejotes (Mexico); chauchas (Argentina)
champiñón / hongo	mushroom	champiñón (Spain); hongo (Latin America)
col / repollo	cabbage	col (Spain); repollo (Latin America)
alcachofa	artichoke
berenjena	eggplant / aubergine
apio	celery
remolacha / betabel	beet	remolacha (Spain, South America); betabel (Mexico)
espárrago	asparagus
camote / batata / boniato	sweet potato	camote (Mexico, Central America); batata (South America, Spain)
puerro	leek
coliflor	cauliflower
rábano	radish
nopales	cactus paddles	common in Mexican cuisine
chayote	chayote / mirliton	common in Mexico and Central America

Meat (la carne)

Spanish	English
carne de res / ternera	beef
pollo	chicken
cerdo / puerco	pork
cordero	lamb
pavo	turkey
pato	duck
jamón	ham
tocino / beicon	bacon
salchicha	sausage
chorizo	chorizo
carne molida / carne picada	ground beef / minced meat
bistec / filete	steak / fillet
costillas	ribs
hígado	liver
chuleta	chop (pork or lamb)
muslo	thigh (chicken)
pechuga	breast (chicken)

Seafood (los mariscos y el pescado)

Spanish	English
pescado	fish (as food)
camarón / gamba / langostino	shrimp / prawn
langosta	lobster
cangrejo	crab
calamar	squid
pulpo	octopus
salmón	salmon
atún	tuna
bacalao	cod / salt cod
trucha	trout
mejillones	mussels
almejas	clams
ostras	oysters
sardinas	sardines
lubina / róbalo	sea bass
merluza	hake
anchoa / boquerón	anchovy

Dairy and eggs (los lácteos y los huevos)

Spanish	English
leche	milk
queso	cheese
mantequilla	butter
crema / nata	cream
yogur	yogurt
huevo	egg
crema agria	sour cream
queso crema	cream cheese
helado	ice cream
natillas / flan	custard / flan

Bread and grains (el pan y los cereales)

Spanish	English
pan	bread
arroz	rice
pasta	pasta
harina	flour
avena	oats
trigo	wheat
tortilla de maíz	corn tortilla
tortilla de harina	flour tortilla
baguette / baguet	baguette
pan dulce	sweet bread (Mexican pastries)
arepa	arepa (Colombian/Venezuelan corn cake)
tamales	tamales
pan de molde / pan de caja	sliced sandwich bread

Drinks (las bebidas)

Spanish	English	Notes
agua	water
agua mineral / agua con gas	sparkling water
café	coffee
té	tea
jugo / zumo	juice	jugo (Latin America); zumo (Spain)
jugo de naranja / zumo de naranja	orange juice
vino	wine
vino tinto	red wine
vino blanco	white wine
cerveza	beer
refresco / gaseosa / soda	soda / soft drink	refresco (Mexico); gaseosa (South America); soda (Central America)
chocolate caliente	hot chocolate
limonada	lemonade
batido / licuado	smoothie / milkshake	batido (Spain); licuado (Mexico)
horchata	horchata
sangría	sangria
margarita	margarita
ron	rum
tequila	tequila
mezcal	mezcal
champán / cava	champagne / cava	champán (Spain for sparkling wine generally); cava (Spanish sparkling wine specifically)
mate	mate	South American herbal infusion
agua de jamaica	hibiscus water	popular in Mexico
atole	atole	warm corn-based drink, Mexico

Condiments and spices (los condimentos y las especias)

Spanish	English
sal	salt
pimienta	pepper
azúcar	sugar
aceite	oil
aceite de oliva	olive oil
vinagre	vinegar
mostaza	mustard
kétchup / catsup	ketchup
mayonesa	mayonnaise
salsa picante	hot sauce
salsa de soya / salsa de soja	soy sauce
ajo en polvo	garlic powder
comino	cumin
pimentón / paprika	paprika
canela	cinnamon
orégano	oregano
hoja de laurel	bay leaf
chile en polvo / chili en polvo	chili powder
cilantro	cilantro / coriander
perejil	parsley
menta	mint
romero	rosemary

Cooking methods (métodos de cocción)

Spanish	English
freír	to fry
hervir	to boil
hornear	to bake
asar	to grill / to roast
cocinar al vapor	to steam
saltear	to sauté
cocer a fuego lento	to simmer
ahumar	to smoke
a la plancha	on a griddle / pan-seared
crudo/a	raw
cocido/a	cooked
bien cocido/a	well done
término medio	medium (steak)
poco hecho/a / término inglés	rare / medium rare
tostado/a	toasted
marinado/a	marinated

At the restaurant (en el restaurante)

Use these phrases when ordering, asking questions, and paying at any Spanish-speaking restaurant. If you plan to cook while traveling, the same food vocabulary also helps when grocery shopping in Spanish, especially when asking about quantities, freshness, or substitutions at a market.

Spanish phrase	English
Quisiera…	I would like…
Voy a pedir…	I’ll have…
La cuenta, por favor.	The bill, please.
¿Qué recomienda?	What do you recommend?
¿Es picante?	Is it spicy?
¿Tiene ingredientes sin…	Does it contain [ingredient]?
Soy alérgico/a a…	I am allergic to…
Soy vegetariano/a.	I am vegetarian.
Soy vegano/a.	I am vegan.
Sin [ingrediente], por favor.	Without [ingredient], please.
Una mesa para dos, por favor.	A table for two, please.
¿Tienen carta? / ¿Tienen menú?	Do you have a menu?
¿Cuál es el especial del día?	What is today’s special?
Está delicioso/a.	It is delicious.
Muy sabroso/a.	Very tasty.
Estoy lleno/a.	I am full.
¿Me lo puede poner para llevar?	Can I have this to go?
Un vaso de agua, por favor.	A glass of water, please.
Más pan, por favor.	More bread, please.
¿Acepta tarjetas?	Do you accept cards?
¿Está incluido el servicio?	Is the service charge included?
Mesero / Mesera	Waiter / Waitress (Latin America)
Camarero / Camarera	Waiter / Waitress (Spain)
¿Tiene mesa disponible?	Do you have a table available?

Work with a private Spanish tutor to practice full restaurant conversations: ordering from a real menu, asking about dishes, and handling common issues like dietary restrictions.

Describing food (cómo describir la comida)

Spanish	English
dulce	sweet
salado/a	salty
picante	spicy
agrio/a / ácido/a	sour
amargo/a	bitter
sabroso/a	savory / tasty
rico/a	delicious
soso/a	bland
fresco/a	fresh
congelado/a	frozen
crujiente	crunchy
tierno/a	tender
jugoso/a	juicy
grasoso/a / grasiento/a	greasy
ligero/a	light
caliente	hot
frío/a	cold
tibio/a	warm / lukewarm
ahumado/a	smoky
picoso/a	very spicy (Mexico)

For a deeper look at how to use descriptive adjectives in Spanish, including agreement rules for food words, the guide to Spanish adjectives covers the patterns and common errors.

Meals and mealtimes (las comidas del día)

Spanish	English	Notes
desayuno	breakfast
almuerzo / comida	lunch	almuerzo (Latin America, Spain formal); comida (Spain, also means meal generally)
cena	dinner
merienda	afternoon snack	common in Spain around 5-6pm
brunch	brunch
aperitivo / entrante	appetizer / starter
plato principal	main course
postre	dessert
guarnición	side dish
sopa	soup
ensalada	salad
menú del día	set lunch menu (Spain)	typically a fixed-price 2-3 course lunch
botana / tapa / picoteo	snack / appetizer	botana (Mexico); tapa (Spain); picoteo (general)

The timing of meals varies significantly across the Spanish-speaking world. In Spain, lunch (comida) is typically the main meal of the day and is eaten between 2pm and 4pm. Dinner (cena) starts late, often at 9pm or later. In Mexico and most of Latin America, lunch is typically eaten between 1pm and 3pm and dinner earlier, around 7-8pm. For Spanish vocabulary related to clock times and daily schedules, the guide to telling time in Spanish covers the phrases you need.

Regional vocabulary notes

Several key food words differ between Spain and Latin America. Knowing the most common variations avoids confusion when you move between regions.

English	Spain	Mexico	South America
potato	patata	papa	papa
juice	zumo	jugo	jugo
banana	plátano (or banana for imported)	plátano	banana
strawberry	fresa	fresa	frutilla
avocado	aguacate	aguacate	palta
peach	melocotón	durazno	durazno
waiter	camarero/a	mesero/a	mozo/a (Argentina)
soft drink	refresco	refresco	gaseosa
sparkling water	agua con gas	agua mineral con gas	agua con gas
straw	pajita	popote	pitillo / sorbete

Practice food Spanish in real conversation

Food vocabulary is most useful when you practice it in context: describing a dish you love, reading a menu aloud, asking about ingredients in a market, or role-playing a restaurant conversation. Those situations expose the vocabulary gaps that word lists alone do not reveal.

italki’s 30,000+ expert tutors include Spanish speakers from Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and across the Spanish-speaking world who can run market and restaurant role-plays, explain regional food culture, and help you build the confidence to order anything on a menu. Trusted by over 10 million learners worldwide, the platform lets you find a tutor who specializes in conversational Spanish for travel or daily life. Book a trial lesson and use a restaurant scene or market shopping list from this guide as your first session topic.

FAQ

How do you say food in Spanish?

The general word for food is comida (food, meal). Alimento is a more formal word for food or nourishment, often used in nutrition or medical contexts. Plato means dish, as in a specific dish on the menu. In everyday conversation, comida is the word you will use most.

What is the difference between papa and patata?

Both mean potato. Papa is used across Latin America. Patata is the standard word in Spain. In a Latin American restaurant in Spain, you might see both on the menu depending on the origin of the chef.

How do I ask for the check in Spanish?

La cuenta, por favor (The bill/check, please) works everywhere in the Spanish-speaking world. In Spain you might also hear me pone la cuenta (bring me the check). In some Latin American countries, la factura refers specifically to an itemized invoice.

Why do some Spanish food words have different accents by country?

Spanish food vocabulary reflects the cultural and indigenous influence of each region. Mexican Spanish absorbed Nahuatl words (like tomate, chile, aguacate, chocolate, camote). South American Spanish absorbed Quechua words (like papa, choclo, palta). Spain preserved older Spanish forms. These are all correct Spanish; they simply reflect different histories.

What is menú del día in Spain?

The menú del día (daily set menu) is a fixed-price lunch offered by most restaurants in Spain, typically including a first course, a main course, bread, and a drink or dessert. It is one of the most practical and economical ways to eat well in Spain during lunchtime.