Spanish-English Glossary of Food Terms

A




abadejo – pollack

acedera - sorrel

aceite - oil

aceite de girasol -sunflower oil

aceite de oliva – olive oil

aceituna – olive

aceituna negra – black olive

aceituna verde – green olive

acelgas - chard

achicoria – chicory

achuras – intestines, offal

adereza – dressing, condiment

adobo - marinade

agridulce - sweet and sour

agrio - sour

agua mineral – mineral water

natural – still

con gas - sparkling

aguacate – avocado

aguja - sandpiper

ahumado – smoked

ajedrea – summer/winter savory

ajo - garlic

ajonjolí - sesame

albacora – albacore (tuna)

albahaca -basil

albardilla – fat wrapped around meat when cooking

albaricoque - apricot

albóndiga - meatball

alcachofa - artichoke

alcaparras – capers

alcaravea - caraway

alforfón - buckwheat

algarrobo - carob

algas - seaweed

alioli - garlic mayonnaise

aliño – dressing (as in salad dressing)

almejas - clams

almendras - almonds

almíbar – syrup

almidón - starch

altramuz – white lupin (bean)

alubias – pulses, beans

alubias negras - black beans

alubias rojas - kidney beans

anacardo - cashew

ancas de rana – frog legs

anchoa – pickled anchovy

androlla – type of pork sausage

angélica – garden angelica

anguila – freshwater eel

angula – baby eel

anís – anise

añadir/añadido – to add, added

añojo – meat (beef, veal) from an animal of 1-2 years of age

aperitivo – appetizer or aperitif

apio – celery

arándano – cranberry, blueberry

arbiello – type of pork sausage

arenque - herring

arenque ahumado – kipper, smoked herring

arroz - rice

asado/a – roasted, baked

ascalonia - shallot

aspic, gelatina - aspic

atún – tuna

ave - poultry

avellana - hazelnut

avena - oats

avestruz - ostrich

azafrán – saffron

azahar – orange flower (and the flower of other fruits)

azucar -sugar

azúcar glace -icing sugar

azúcar moreno – brown sugar

azul - blue



B



bacalao - cod

bacalao salado - salt cod

bajoca – green bean

baluchon – small bundle

bandeja - tray

bambú – bamboo

baño/bañado – coated, glazed

barbacoa – barbecue

barbo – barbel (carp)

barón – cut of lamb

barquillo – cone (ice cream)

barra – loaf (of bread), bar, counter

bastón – cut in a long, thin shape

batata – sweet potato

batido – milkshake

becada - woodcock

bechamel - bechamel sauce

beicón -bacon

bellota – acorn

berberecho - cockle

berenjena – aubergine, eggplant

berro – watercress

berza – green cabbage

besugo - sea bream

bígaro – winkle (snail)

birica – fresh sausage

bisbe - type of blood sausage

bisbot – pork sausage

bistec – steak

bizcocho – cake, coffee-cake, ladyfingers

blanca/o - white

bocadillo - sandwich on baguette-type bread

bodega – winery, wine cellar

boga – Iberian nase (ray finned fish)

bogavante – lobster

boletus – funghi porcini mushrooms

bollo – roll, sweet roll

bombón - bonbon

bonito - tuna

boquerones – salted anchovies

borde - edge

borraja – borage

botelo – Galician sausage

botillo – sausage typical to Leon

brasear/braseado – charcoal-grill

brócoli, brécol - broccoli

brocheta - skewer

brotes de soja - bean sprouts (soybean)

buey – beef from an animal of more than 4 years of age

buey del mar – pagurus crab

budín, pudín, pudding –pudding

buñuelo – fritter

burbuja - bubble

butifarra – Catalunyan sausage



C

caballa - mackerel

caballo – horse

cabello de angel – angel-hair

cabeza - head

cabra – goat

cabracho - scorpionfish

cabrito - kid

cacahuete - peanut

cacao – cocoa powder

caella – smooth dogfish

café – coffee

café solo – small, black espresso

café cortado – small espresso with a little milk

café con leche – coffee with milk

café americano – larger, black coffee

calabacín – courgette, zucchini

calabaza – pumpkin, squash

calamar - squid

caldo - broth or stock

caliente - hot

callos – tripe

camarón - shrimp

canela - cinnamon

canelones - cannelloni

cangrejo – crab

canónigos – lamb’s lettuce

caña – glass of draft beer

cañadillas – sea snails

cañita – small glass of draft beer/pastry roll

capa – layer

capón – capon

capricho – whim

carabinero – large, red shrimp

caracol – snail

caramelizado – caramelized

caramelo – caramel

caramelos - candies

carbón – charcoal

cardamomo – cardamom

cardo - thistle

carne -meat

carne de salchicha - sausage meat

carne picada – mince, ground meat

carpa - carp

carrillera – (animal) cheek

cáscara - rind

cáscaras - shells

castaña –chestnut

cata/catar – wine-tasting/try the wine

cava – sparkling champagne-style wine

caza - game

cazo - pan, saucepan

cazón – dogfish

cazuela – casserole dish

cebolla - onion

cebolleta – shallot, scallion, green onion

cebollino – chive

cebón – beef from an animal of up to 4 years of age

cecina – cured beef

cena – evening meal

centeno - rye

centollo – king crab

cerdo - pork

cerdo picado - ground pork

cereal – cereal

cereales – breakfast cereal

cereza – cherry

cerveza - beer

ceviche – raw marinated fish or shellfish

champiñones – mushrooms

changurro – prepared crab meat

chanquete – goby (fish)

chipirón – small squid

chirimoya - cherimoya

chirivia - parsnip

chirla – small clam

chistorra – cured pork sausage from Navarra

chivo – young kid (2 – 4 months of age)

chocolate – chocolate

chopa – black bream

chopito – dwarf bobtail squid

chorizo – spicy Spanish pork sausage

chorro – trickle, dash

chuchango - snail

chufa – sedge, tigernuts

chuleta – chop (pork or lamb)

chuletón – t-bone/porterhouse steak*

churro – deep-fried pastry

cidra – hard cider

ciervo - deer

cigala – Norway lobster

cigalita - crab

cilantro - coriander

cintas – type of pasta, tagliatelle

ciruela – plum

ciruela pasa - prune

cítrico - citric

clara de huevo - egg white

clavo – clove

coca – pastry shell, pastry base

cocido – cooked, a typical stew

cochinillo – suckling pig

cocina – kitchen, stove, cuisine

coco - coconut

codorniz - quail

codillo – ham hock

cogollo - heart (of cabbage, lettuce)

col - cabbage

cola – tail

coles de Bruselas - brussel sprouts

coliflor – cauliflower

colmenillas - morels

comida - food, the lunch-time meal

comino - cumin

condimento - seasoning

conejo - rabbit

confitado – candied, stewed, conft

congelado - frozen

congrio - conger eel

conserva – canned, preserved foods

conservante - preservative

conservar - preserve

consistencia –consistency

contra muslo - thigh

coñac - brandy

copa – wine glass (stemmed glass), liqueur, mixed drink

copos de avena -oats

copos de maíz tostados - cornflakes

corazón – heart

coquina – tellina (clam)

corinto - currant

cordero – lamb

corral – (chicken) free-range

corte - cut

corvina – croaker (fish)

corzo – roe deer

cosecha – crop, vintage

costillas – ribs, spare ribs

crema pastelera - confectioner's custard

cremoso/a - creamy

crepe – pancake, crepe

criadilla de tierra – type of wild mushroom

criadillas – (animal) testicles

crianza – (red wine) minimum aging of 2 years

crocante – crispy

croqueta – croquette

crudo - raw

crujiente – crispy

crustáceo – crustacean, shellfish

cuajar - curdle

cuajo – rennet

cubitera - icebucket

cuchara – tablespoon, soup spoon

(de) cuchara – soup, stew eaten with a spoon

cucharita, cucharilla - teaspoon

cuchillo – knife

cuenco –bowl

culis – coulis

curado/a - cured

cúrcuma - turmeric



D

dátil – date

dátil de mar – date mussel

del día – today’s, the day’s special

dentón – dentex bream

deshuesado – boned

desayuno (n.), desayunar (v.) – breakfast

despojos – secondary cuts of meat, offal

dientes de ajo – cloves of garlic

diente de león – dandelion

doblado – folded

doncella – rainbow wrasse fish

donut – doughnut

dorada – gilt head fish

dorado - golden

dulce – sweet

dulce de membrillo – quince jelly



E



embutido – general name for sausage

empanada, empanadilla – pasty, breaded

emperador – swordfish

emulsión - emulsion

endrina - sloe

enebro - juniper

endibias - endives

endulzante - sweetener

endulzar, azucarar - sweeten

eneldo - dill

enfriado – chilled

engrasado –greased, oiled

ensalada – salad

en su punto – (meat) medium

entero – whole

entrada – first course, appetizer

entrecot – rib eye steak*

erizo de mar – sea urchin

escaldar - scald

escalfado – poached

escalope – thin beef fillet

escabeche – marinade

escarola – chicory, radicchio

escorpena – scorpion fish

escupiña – Venus clam

espaguetis - spaghetti

espalda – cut of lamb used in stews

espárrago – asparagus

especia - spice

espeso – stiff, thick

espina – fish bone

espinacas - spinach

espuma - foam

estofado - casserole or stew

estómago – stomach

estragón – tarragon

esturión - sturgeon

exprimido - squeezed



F



faba – broad bean

faisán – pheasant

faneca – poor-cod

fardito – small bundle

fécula – potato starch

fiambres – cold cuts

fideo – small pasta, noodle

filet – fillet

flan – creme caramel

flor – flower

foie gras – goose or duck liver pate

forma – shape

frambuesa – raspberry

fresa – strawberry

fresón – large strawberry

frijol – lima bean

frito/a – fried

frotado/a – rubbed



G



galleta - cookie

galleta salada - cracker, pretzel

gallina – hen

gallineta – blackbelly rosefish

gallo – rooster

gallo de mar – megrim, turbot

gambas – prawns, shrimp

gamo – dama gazelle

ganso - goose

garbanzos - chick peas

gazpacho - cold tomato soup

gelatina – gelatina, jelly

ginebra - gin

girasol – sunflower

gofre - waffle

goloso - sweet toothed

granada - pomegranate

granizado – beverage made with shaved ice

gran reserva (red wine) – from the best vintage and aged at least 5 years

grasa – grease, fat

gratinar/gratinado – grilled

grelos - rapini

grisín, colín - bread stick

grosella – red currant

grueso – thick

guarnición – garnish, side dish

guayaba – guava

guinda – sour cherry

guindilla – pepperoncini peppers, chili peppers

guisantes – peas

güisqui – whisky



H

habas - broad beans

habichuelas/alubias/frijoles - beans

harina - flour

harina de maíz - cornstarch

helado - ice cream

helado/a – cold, frozen

hervido – boiled

hielo - ice

hierba – herb

hierba doncella - myrtle (AmE), periwinkle (BrE)

hierbabuena - mint

hierbaluisa - lemon verbena, lemongrass

higado - liver

higo - fig

higo chumbo - prickly pear

hilo - string

hinojo - fennel

hoja - leaf

hojaldre - puff pastry

horchata – beverage made from ground nuts

horno – oven

horno de leña – wood-burning store

hortaliza - vegetable

hueco - dent, hollow

huerta - garden

hueso – bone, pit (as in an olive)

hueva -roe

huevera - eggcup

huevo - egg

huevo duro - hard boiled egg



J

jabalí - wild boar

jamón – ham

jamón serrano – cured ham

jamón York - cooked ham, boiled ham

japuta – Atlantic pomfret fish

jaramago – horseradish

jarra – large glass or mug (beer), pitcher (water, wine)

jarrete – shin cut of meat*

jengibre - ginger

jerez – sherry

joven - young

judía – bean

judías verdes – green beans

jugo – juice (meat)

jugoso - juicy

juliana – julienne

jurel – Atlantic horse mackerel



L

lacón – cured pork shoulder

lado – side

ladrillo – wedge (lit. brick)

lagarto – lizard

láminas - shavings

lamprea - eel

langosta – Norwegian lobster

langostinos – prawns, giant shrimp

lañar/lañado – split open

lapa - limpet

lata – can or tin

laurel - bayleaf

lechal – baby animal (kid, lamb)

leche - milk

leche cuajada – curdled milk

leche de coco – coconut milk

lecho – bed (i.e. of lettuce)

lechoso - milky

lechuga - lettuce

lechón (cochinillo) - suckling pig

legumbre - legume

lenguado – sole

lengua - tongue

lentamente – gradually, slowly

lentejas - lentils

levadura - baking powder, yeast

liebre – hare

lija - catshark

lima - lime

limón - lemon

limoncillo – lemongrass

llampuga - dolphinfish

lombarda – red cabbage

lomo - loin

longaniza – sausage with ground pork filling

lubina – sea bass

lucio - pike



M



macis – mace

madroño – arbutus berry

maduro - ripe

magdalena - cupcake

magret de pato – lean duck breast

magro - lean (pork)

mahonesa - mayonnaise

maíz – sweetcorn

malagueta – bay rum

mandarina – mandarine orange

mandioca - cassava

mango - mango

manita - hoof

manteca - lard

mantequilla - butter

manzana – apple

manzanilla – chamomile tea, dry sherry

maracuyá – passion fruit

margarina - margarine

mariscos – shellfish

masa - dough

mayonesa – mayonnaise

medallón – medallion

media - half

mejillones – mussels

mejorana - marjoram

melaza – molasses

melisa – lemon balm

melocotón - peach

melón - honeydew melon

melón gialla – galia melon

melón piel de sapo – Christmas melon

melsa – beef or pork pancreas

melva – frigate mackerel

membrillo - quince

menta – mint

menú – special menú

menú de degustación – tasting menu

merluza - hake

mero - grouper

mezcla – mix, assortment

microvegetales – baby vegetables

miel – honey

mielga - alfalfa

migas de pan/pan rallado – breadcrumbs

milanesa – breaded cutlet

mitad - half

molido, pulverizado - ground

mollejas, lechecillas - sweetbreads

mollete – muffin

mojama – cured tuna

mojarra – two-banded sea bream

molusco – mollusk

montado/montadito – open-faced sándwich

montaña - mountain

mora - blackberry

morcilla - black pudding, blood sausage

morena – brown, tanned

morro - snout

mostaza - mustard

mújol - mullet

muslo de pollo - drumstick (chicken)

muy hecha – (meat) well-done



N



nabo – turnip

nalga - rump

naranja - orange

nata - cream

nata agria - sour cream

nata montada - whipped cream

natillas – custard, pudding

navaja – razor shell clam

nécora – velvet swimming crab

nectarina – nectarine

níspero - loquat

novillo – young beef

nube - cloud

nuez (pl. nueces) - walnuts

nuez moscada –nutmeg

ñoras – spicy dried peppers



O



oca - goose

orégano -oregano

oreja – ear

ortiga – nettle

ortiga de mar – sea anemone

oruga – rocket, arugula

ostras – oysters

oveja – ewe



P



pacharan – typical liqueur

pagel (or pajel) – Pandora bream

pájaro – bird

paladar – palate

paleta – shoulder cut of meat*

palito – stick-shaped

palmito – palm heart

paloma – squab, dove, pigeon

palometa – pompano

pan – bread

panache – assortment

panceta – bacon

pan de molde – sliced bread

pan integral – whole wheat bread

pan rallado – bread crumbs

pardela – shearwater bird

pargo – red porgy fish

parrilla – grill

pasionaria – passion fruit

pasta – pasta, dough

pastel – cake, tart

pata – paw, animal’s leg

patata – potato

patatas fritas – crisps, chips, French fries

pato – duck

pavo – turkey

pechina – tellina clam

pechuga – breast

pelada/o – peeled , skinned

pejepalo – smoked cod

pejerrey – smelt

pepinillo – gherkin, pickle

pepino – cucumber

pera – pear

perca – perch

percebe – barnacle

perdiz – partridge

perejil – parsley

perifollo – chervil

perrito caliente – hotdog

pescadilla – sea trout, hake

pescado – fish

pez espada – swordfish

picante – spicy

picar/para picar – snack

piel – skin

pierna – leg

pimentón – páprika

pimienta – pepper (spice)

pimiento – pepper (vegetable)

pincho – small serving

piña – pineapple

piñones – pinenuts

pipas – seeds, sunflower seeds

pistacho – pistaccio

pizca –pinch

plancha – grill, griddle

plátano – banana

platija –flounder

plato – dish, course

plato principal – main course

poca hecha – (meat) rare

pochada/o – poached

poleo – mint, herbal mint tea

pollo – chicken

polvo – powder, dust

pomelo – grapefruit

porra – thicker “churro”

postre – dessert

potaje – stew, thick soup

precio mercado (pm or psm) – market price

primer plato – first course, starter

puchero – stew, casserole

puerro – leek

pularda – young hen

pulpo – octopus

puré – puree



Q



queso – cheese



R



rábano – radish

rabo de buey – oxtail

ración – portion, serving

rallada/o – grated

ramita – sprig

rana – frog

rape – monkfish

rata de agua – water vole

raya – skate

rebanada – slice

rebeco – chamois goat

rebozada/o – breaded

recental – young nursing animal

receta – recipe

reducción – reduction

refresco – soft drink

refrito – sauteed with vegetables or tomato and garlic

regaliz – licorice

rellena/o – filling

rémol – brill fish

remolacha – beetroot

repollo – cabbage

repostería – confectionery

requesón – ricotta cheese, cottage cheese

riñon – kidney

rodaballo – turbot

roja/o – red

rollito – roll

romero – rosemary

ron – rum

rosado – pink, rosé wine

rosbi – roast beef

rosquilla – doughnut

rúcula – rocket, arugula

ruibarbo – rhubarb



S



sabor – taste

sacarina – saccharine, artificial sweetener

sal – salt

sal grueso – coarse salt, sea salt

salada/o – salted, salty

salchicha – sausage

salchichón – cured sausage

salmón – salmon

salmonete – red mullet

salsa – sauce

salteado – sautéed

salvia – sage

sándwich – sandwich on sliced bread

sandía – watermelon

sangre – blood

sapito – whole monkfish

sardinas – sardines

sazonado – seasoned

secada/o – dried

secreto ibérico – pork fillet

segundo plato – second course, main course

semilla – seed

sémola – semolina

sepia – cuttlefish

sésamo – sesame

seso – brain

setas – wild mushrooms, morels

sidra – cider

sobresada – pork sausage spread

sofrito – sauce from sautéed vegetables

soja – soy

solomillo – top sirloin or tenderloin steak*

solomillo ibérico – pork tenderloin

sopa – soup

sorbete – sorbet

sumergida/o – dipped

suprema – boneless, skinless cut of fish



T



tabla – board, tray

taco – cube

tallarines – noodles, fettuccine

tallo – stalk

tapa – small portion of food, appetizer

tapada/o – covered

tarta – cake, pie, tart

te – tea

templada/o – lukewarm

tenca – tench, doctor fish

ternasco – young lamb

ternera picada – ground beef

ternera – veal or beef from animals of 8-12 months of age

tibia/o – tepid, lukewarm

tierna/o – tender

tila – linden flower

tinta – ink

tinto – red (wine)

tiritas – strips

tocino – pork fat

tofu – queso de soja – tofu

tomate – tomato

tomillo – thyme

tordo – thrush

toro – bull

torrija – french toast

tortilla – omelette

tortita – pancake

tortuga – turtle

tosta – toasted (generally) rustic bread

tostada – (breakfast) toast

tostada/o – toasted

trenza – braid

trigo – wheat

trigueros – asparagus

tripa – intestines, tripe

triturada/o – liquified

tronco – trunk, medallion, fillet

trucha – trout

trufa – truffle



U



untada/o – spread (with)

urta – red porgy fish

uva – grape

uva pasa – raisin



V



vaca – cow

vainilla – vanilla

vapor – steam

venado – venison

ventresca – white section of tuna

verbena – assortment, medley

verdura – vegetable

vieira – scallop

vinagre – vinegar

vinagreta – vinaigrette

vino – wine

tinto – red

blanco – white

rosado – rosé

de aguja – sparkling wine

viruta – shaving, small bit

vodka – vodka



Y



yema de huevo – egg yolk

yogur – yogurt



Z



zamburiña – small scallop

zanahoria – carrot

zarzamora – blackberry

zarzaparrilla – sarsparilla

zumo – juice (fruit or vegetable)



• use of a/o: all nouns in Spanish have gender, masculine or feminine and the modifying adjective agrees with the noun. An adjective you see may end in either “a” or “o” depending on the noun, i.e.: vino (masculine) blanco, ternera (feminine) blanca



• * meat cuts, especially beef, are not identical to US or UK butchers’ cuts





• Words for allergies and specific dietetic needs:

 “sin gluten” – gluten-free

 “sin frutos secos” – without nuts

 “vegetariana/o” – vegetarian

 “sin productos lácteos” – lactose-free

 “sin azúcar” – sugar-free