Spanish Vocabulary for Food & Drinks
Learn common Spanish words and phrases related to Food & Drinks to expand your language skills.
tarta de manzana
apple pie
The Spanish term 'tarta de manzana' translates to 'apple pie' in English, a popular dessert made from apple filling inside a flaky pastry crust. This dessert is often served warm and can be topped with various toppings like ice cream or whipped cream. Whether part of a celebration or enjoyed as a comfort food, apple pie holds a place of significance in many cultures, notably in the United States where it is considered a classic.
té
tea
The Spanish word 'té' translates to 'tea' in English. The term is used to refer to a popular hot or cold beverage that is usually made by steeping the leaves of a particular plant in boiling water. This drink comes in several different varieties, including green tea, black tea, and herbal tea. 'Té' can also refer to the plant itself. The use of the word 'té' varies depending on the context of a sentence in Spanish.
tener apetito
Having appetite
The Spanish phrase 'tener apetito' translates to 'having appetite' in English. It is used when someone feels the need to eat or has a desire for food. This phrase is a common way to express hunger in the Spanish language.
tener de oferta
have offer
The Spanish phrase 'tener de oferta' translates to 'have offer' in English. It is often used in the context of businesses or stores indicating that they have items on sale or for a special price. Though the direct translation is 'have offer', it is more naturally translated as 'to have on sale' or 'to have for a special price' in conversational English.
tener hambre
hunger
The Spanish phrase 'tener hambre' directly translates to 'have hunger' in English. However, in usage it is more accurately translated to 'be hungry'. The phrase is used to express hunger or the need for food. For instance, 'Yo tengo hambre' means 'I am hungry'.
tener resaca
having a hangover
The Spanish phrase 'tener resaca' translates directly to 'having a hangover' in English. It is commonly used in conversational Spanish to express the feeling of headache, nausea, and general discomfort that often follows after an indulgence in an excessive amount of alcohol. For example, if someone drank too much wine last night and they are feeling ill the next morning, they could say, 'Tengo resaca', which means 'I have a hangover'. However, the severity of 'resaca' can vary from person to person and situation to situation, depending on different factors such as the amount consumed or the individual's tolerance to alcohol.
tener sed
be thirsty
The Spanish phrase 'tener sed' translates to 'be thirsty' in English. It is often used when someone wants to express that they have a physical need to drink something, typically water or other hydrating beverages. In English, we directly say 'I am thirsty', but in Spanish, the verb 'tener' is used to express a variety of states or feelings, in this case, thirst. Therefore, 'Yo tengo sed' would translate as 'I am thirsty'.
tomar algo
Have a drink
The Spanish phrase 'tomar algo' directly translates to 'take something' in English. However, it's a colloquial phrase often used in the context of socializing and it's more accurately translated as 'have a drink'. So, if someone asks you if you want to 'tomar algo', they're not necessarily asking if you want to take something, they're likely asking if you want to go out and have a drink or snack.
tomar una copa
Have a drink.
The Spanish phrase 'tomar una copa' translates to 'have a drink' in English. It is commonly used in social situations for meeting up or having a relaxing time. For instance, you may use it while asking someone if they would like to go for a drink. However, remember that 'tomar' also signifies 'taking something', so the meaning can sometimes vary depending on the context.
tomate
tomato
The Spanish word 'tomate' translates to 'tomato' in English, which is a red or yellowish fruit with a juicy pulp, used in cooking or eaten raw in salads. It is widely cultivated as a garden vegetable.
tomillo
thyme
The Spanish word 'tomillo' translates to 'thyme' in English. 'Thyme' is a type of herb with a strong flavor, used in cooking. It is a common herb in many types of cuisine around the world.
tortilla
tortilla
A tortilla is a type of soft, thin flatbread made from finely ground wheat flour. It originates from Mexico, and is used for making tacos, quesadillas, burritos, etc.
Example sentences with tortilla →tragar
swallow
The Spanish verb 'tragar' translates to 'swallow' in English. It is commonly used in contexts of consuming food or drink and denotes the action of making something pass from the mouth to the stomach through the throat. It can also represent accepting or enduring a difficult or unpleasant situation, similar to the English idiom 'to swallow a bitter pill'.
trocear una manzana
chop an apple
The Spanish phrase 'trocear una manzana' translates to 'chop an apple' in English. It is a verb phrase that refers to the action of cutting an apple into pieces. 'Trocear' is the infinitive form of the verb that means 'to chop' and 'una manzana' is a singular phrase which means 'an apple'. The phrase can be used in various contexts involving cooking or preparing food.
trozo de pan
piece of bread
The Spanish phrase 'trozo de pan' translates to 'piece of bread' in English. The word 'trozo' means 'piece', 'de' is a preposition that is similar to 'of' in English and 'pan' translates to 'bread'. So when combined, 'trozo de pan' denotes a portion or slice of bread.
trozo de tarta
piece of cake
The Spanish term 'trozo de tarta' translates to 'piece of cake' in English. It is a phrase commonly used in Spanish referring to a portion of a cake. It's also used metaphorically in a similar way as 'piece of cake' in English, to describe a task or situation that is simple or easy.
un cuarto de kilo
a quarter kilo
The Spanish phrase 'un cuarto de kilo' translates to 'a quarter kilo' in English. It is a unit of measurement commonly used in markets and shops in Spanish-speaking countries to weigh food items, particularly meat and vegetables. It is equivalent to 250 grams, as a kilo, short for kilogram, is a unit of weight that equals 1000 grams. Therefore, 'un cuarto de kilo' implies one-fourth of this measurement. This phrase can be utilized in a variety of practical scenarios, such as buying groceries, to discuss weight and quantities.
un kilo
One kilo
The Spanish term 'un kilo' translates to 'one kilo' in English. It is a unit of weight used in the metric system, equivalent to approximately 2.20462 pounds. The term 'kilo' is short for kilogram. 'Un' is a Spanish indefinite article used before singular nouns and translates to 'a' or 'one' in English. So, 'un kilo' in Spanish refers to a quantity of one kilogram.
un reserva
a reservation
The Spanish term 'un reserva' translates to 'a reservation' in English. One can use this term while making advance arrangements or bookings, such as in a hotel, a restaurant, or any event. 'Reserva' is a feminine noun in Spanish, and using 'un' before the noun designates it as a singular noun. Therefore, 'un reserva' signifies 'one reservation' or 'a reservation'.
uva
grape
A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus Vitis. They can be eaten fresh or they can be used for making wine, jam, juice, jelly, grape seed extract, raisins, vinegar, and grape seed oil.
Example sentences with uva →verdura
vegetables
The Spanish word 'verdura' translates to 'vegetables' in English. It refers to any type of vegetable and is a common word in cooking and gastronomy. It's part of the everyday vocabulary in Spanish and can be found in various contexts, especially when talking about food, groceries, health or recipes. Note, in certain contexts, 'verdura' may be used to refer to green leafy vegetables specifically, though this usage is less common.
vinagre
vinegar
The Spanish word 'vinagre' translates to 'vinegar' in English. Vinegar is a liquid substance produced from the fermentation of ethanol in a process that yields its key ingredient, acetic acid. It is used in cooking not only for its flavor qualities but also for its chemical properties. 'Vinagre' can be found in many different types of cuisine, used in the preparation or preservation of certain types of foods.
vino afrutado
fruity wine
The Spanish term 'vino afrutado' refers to a specific category of wine that is characterized by its fruit-forward flavor profile. These wines are distinguished by their strong, sweet, and often refreshing fruit flavors, tasting much like fresh fruit. The term can be used to describe both red and white wines, with the specific fruits mentioned often varying depending on the grape variety used to make the wine. 'Vino afrutado' can often be found on wine labels to give prospective buyers an idea of the taste they can expect from the wine.
vino blanco
white wine
The Spanish phrase 'vino blanco' translates to 'white wine' in English. It refers to a type of wine made from a variety of white grapes, which can range in flavor from light and crisp to decadent and rich. The words 'vino' means 'wine' and 'blanco' means 'white'. The phrase is usually used in the context of food and beverages, and it is a common term in Spanish-speaking cultures, including those of Spain and South America.
vino de la casa
house wine
The Spanish phrase 'vino de la casa' translates to 'house wine' in English. A 'house wine' is a wine that a restaurant or bar recommends and serves as their basic or standard wine, usually because it represents a good value for the price and it's assumed to pair reasonably well with a broad range of their dishes. The 'house wine' in an establishment is typically available both by the glass and by the bottle.
vino dulce
sweet wine
The Spanish term 'vino dulce' translates to 'sweet wine' in English. It refers to a type of wine that has a higher level of residual sugar than typical wines, giving it a sweet taste. Sweet wines can be produced in a variety of ways, such as by harvesting grapes at a later date, using specific types of grapes, or interrupting the fermentation process to retain more of the natural grape sugar. Sweet wines are often served with dessert or used in cooking to add sweetness and depth to a dish.
vino espumoso
sparkling wine
The Spanish phrase 'vino espumoso' translates to 'sparkling wine' in English. This is a type of wine that contains significant levels of carbon dioxide, which makes it fizzy. The most famous examples of sparkling wine include Champagne from the region of France of the same name, but many other regions and countries produce their own versions.
vino joven
Young wine
The Spanish phrase 'vino joven' translates to 'young wine' in English. In the context of wine production, 'young wine' also called 'nouveau wine' is a type of wine released in the same year it was harvested. Such wines are meant to be consumed within a year, unlike older wines which are typically aged in bottles or barrels.
vino seco
Dry wine
The Spanish term 'vino seco' directly translates to 'dry wine' in English. It is a description often used for wines that are void of any residual sugar, making their taste less sweet. This phrase is commonly used in Spanish-speaking countries to describe the nature of different types of wines. 'Seco' implies the presence of fewer sugars in the wine, symbolizing a dry or smooth aftertaste.
vino tinto
red wine
The phrase 'vino tinto' in Spanish translates to 'red wine' in English. Red wine is a type of wine made from dark-colored grape varieties. The actual color of the wine can range from intense violet, typical of young wines, through to brick red for mature wines and brown for older red wines. Its color can be derived from a vast assortment of grape varietals ranging from red and deep purple grapes to blue or black grapes.