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If you’re looking for basic Spanish words to build your vocabulary, food is a great place to start. Dining out, shopping for groceries, or just talking about your favorite meals, knowing food-related words makes conversations much easier. In this post, we’ll go over essential Spanish words for food, perfect for anyone learning Spanish for beginners.
As a Spanish learner myself, I’ve learned the hard way that aiming for fluency right away isn’t the best goal when learning a new language. So, if you’re just starting out with Spanish, I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). It will guide you on what to focus on at each stage of your learning journey. Check out this article to get a clearer idea of what you should learn as a beginner and what’s expected of you along the way.
Common Spanish Words for
Fruits – Las Frutas
- Manzana (mahn-SAH-nah) – Apple
- Plátano / Banana (PLAH-tah-noh / bah-NAH-nah) – Banana
- Naranja (nah-RAHN-hah) – Orange
- Uva (OO-bah) – Grape
- Fresa (FRE-sah) – Strawberry
- Sandía (sahn-DEE-ah) – Watermelon
- Piña (PEE-nyah) – Pineapple
- Mango (MAHN-goh) – Mango
Vegetables – Las Verduras
- Tomate (toh-MAH-teh) – Tomato
- Zanahoria (sah-nah-OH-ree-ah) – Carrot
- Lechuga (leh-CHOO-gah) – Lettuce
- Cebolla (seh-BOH-yah) – Onion
- Papa / Patata (PAH-pah / pah-TAH-tah) – Potato
- Pepino (peh-PEE-noh) – Cucumber
- Espinaca (es-pee-NAH-kah) – Spinach
- Pimiento (pee-MYEHN-toh) – Bell pepper
Meat and Seafood – La Carne y el Marisco
- Pollo (POY-yoh) – Chicken
- Ternera (tehr-NEH-rah) – Beef
- Cerdo (SEHR-doh) – Pork
- Pescado (pehs-KAH-doh) – Fish
- Mariscos (mah-REES-kohs) – Seafood
- Camarón (kah-mah-ROHN) – Shrimp
- Salmón (sahl-MOHN) – Salmon
- Atún (ah-TOON) – Tuna
Dairy and Eggs – Los Lácteos y los Huevos
- Leche (LEH-cheh) – Milk
- Queso (KEH-soh) – Cheese
- Mantequilla (mahn-teh-KEE-yah) – Butter
- Yogur (yoh-GOOR) – Yogurt
- Crema (KREH-mah) – Cream
- Huevo (WEH-boh) – Egg
Grains and Bread – Los Cereales y el Pan
- Pan (pahn) – Bread
- Arroz (ah-ROHS) – Rice
- Pasta (PAHS-tah) – Pasta
- Harina (ah-REE-nah) – Flour
- Avena (ah-BEH-nah) – Oats
- Maíz (mah-EES) – Corn
Drinks – Las Bebidas
- Agua (AH-gwah) – Water
- Jugo / Zumo (HOO-goh / THOO-moh) – Juice
- Café (kah-FEH) – Coffee
- Té (teh) – Tea
- Leche (LEH-cheh) – Milk
- Refresco (reh-FREHS-koh) – Soda
- Vino (VEE-noh) – Wine
- Cerveza (sehr-BEH-sah) – Beer
How to Use These Words in Conversation
Now that you have a list of basic Spanish food words, let’s put them into action. Here are some simple sentences you can use:
- “Quiero una manzana, por favor.” (I want an apple, please.)
- “Me gusta el queso.” (I like cheese.)
- “¿Tienes pan?” (Do you have bread?)
- “Voy a comprar arroz y pollo.” (I’m going to buy rice and chicken.)
- “Prefiero el café sin azúcar.” (I prefer coffee without sugar.)
See? It’s easy to start using food vocabulary in daily conversations. Even if you only remember a few words, that’s already progress!
Ordering Food in Spanish
If you’re at a restaurant or café, these phrases will come in handy:
- “¿Qué recomienda?” (What do you recommend?)
- “Voy a pedir una ensalada.” (I’m going to order a salad.)
- “¿Cuánto cuesta?” (How much does it cost?)
- “La cuenta, por favor.” (The check, please.)
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Want to improve your Spanish as a beginner? I personally recommend Mondly, as it helped me tremendously when I was just starting out. With its interactive lessons and real-world conversations, it’s an excellent tool for expanding your vocabulary and building confidence in Spanish. Try Mondly now for free!
Final Thoughts: Basic Spanish Words
Food is one of the easiest and most fun topics to explore when learning Spanish for beginners. You don’t need to memorize everything at once—just start with these basic Spanish words, practice little by little, and use these words in real life whenever you can. Next time you go grocery shopping or cook at home, try thinking of the ingredients in Spanish.
Small steps like this make a big difference!