A glossary, along with phrases and explanation of terms where literal translation is not useful is my end goal of this project. In my earlier versions of the list I simply sought out glossaries, anywhere I could find them on the Net. This resulted in several problems: 1) often there are errors in other peoples’ glossaries, often in spelling (esp. diacritical marks; also is singular or plural and genders, that is not using the base word one would find in proper dictionaries; 2) regional differences within Spain lead to confusion in either different spellings (or words) for the same food item or different items from the same word; 3) “Spanish”, of course, includes a lot more of the world than just Spain and often there are severe contradictions between different countries and I really want to stay focused on Spain (although hongo (mushroom) has appeared in Spanish menus and this is primarily a Latin American term, so even the Spanish are inconsistent on this); 4) many words don’t really have a translation to English because either they stand for themselves (e.g paella, chistorra) or a literal translation is not helpful (as already mentioned, see post on revuelto); 5) some colloquial or slang terms are used in Spain just as they are anywhere and these don’t translate easily; and, 6) sometimes food items are modified with brands or regional terms (de Tuledo) that are quite relevant but not terms that can be converted to English.
So many glossaries you find, as I did (the hard way) are fairly inaccurate and/or fail to provide much help for menus. This is the main reason I’m starting my v3.x effort from menus of restaurants in Spain. While I could look for all restaurants I could find I’m tying my search to my virtual walk along the Camino de Santiago. I started this project when I’d reached just west of Pamplona. So I’ve now covered about 20 miles looking at every restaurant along the way (they have to have webpages and then menus at the website to be useful). So I’ve covered the towns of Cizur Menor, Zariquiegui, Uterga, Muruzábal, Obanos, Puente la Reina, Mañeru, Cirauqui and figured I had enough raw material for my first cut at a glossary (English translation mostly based on Google Translate with some lookups in spanishdict.com). This is a fairly complete list based on no more than extractions from menus. Some words I’ve left off this list as they take more research to get them properly defined (e.g. “beef”, lots of different names for this, and cuts of meat). Other words the literal translation and/or quick searches are insufficient to get a useful (if there is one) definition. For v3.2 I have included terms from many restaurants in Palencia.
So this is v3.2 and I have a lot more to do to even begin to have anything approaching the final list but already my list is better than many of the others you can find on the Net.
Notation in this glossary includes: a) {x|y} which means a letter (sometimes word) can be either x or y, usually this is for gender in adjectives and thus {a|o}, b) [x] means an optional letter (sometimes) word, usually [s] or [es] for plurals (Note: the number in Spanish word may not match number in English word), and, c) stuff inside () is some sort of explanatory comment, not part of the translation per se.
Caution: This glossary comes from many sources and may have errors as I have not done the complete analysis (a large corpus with software collation) and careful editing to eliminate errors (or sometimes typos or spelling). While this list is less good than my goal it may be better than many other lists you’ll find.
| a elección | of your choice |
| a elegir | to choose [from] |
| a la brasa | blackened (on charcoal), rotisserie |
| a la espalda | on the back (split fish pressed flat, fried on skin side) |
| a la parrilla | grilled (on grill grate) |
| a la piedra | cooking on a hot rock |
| a la plancha | grilled (on iron plate) |
| a su gusto | to your liking (as in how well done) |
| abuela | Grandma’s, Grandmother’s |
| abundante | abundant |
| aceite | oil |
| aceite de oliva | olive oil |
| aceite de oliva virgen | virgin olive oil |
| aceite de oliva virgen extra | extra virgin olive oil |
| aceituna[s] | olive |
| acompañad[a|o}[s] | accompanied |
| adobado | marinated |
| agri{a|o} | sour |
| agridulce | sweet and sour |
| agua | water |
| aguacate | avocado |
| ahumado | smoked |
| ajada | garlic and paprika sauce |
| ajetes [tiernos] | young garlic |
| ajo | garlic |
| ajoarriero | a pasta made with potatoes, garlic, egg and oil |
| al ajillo | with garlic |
| al carbon | charcoal |
| al centro | in the center (of table, i.e. sharing) |
| al estilo X | X style |
| al gusto | to taste (doneness) to taste, presumably doneness, i.e. cooked to order |
| al horno | baked |
| al peso | by weight |
| albahaca | basil |
| albaricoque | apricot |
| albondigas | meatloaf/meatballs |
| alcachofa[s] | artichoke |
| alcaparras | capers |
| Alemana | German |
| alimentos | food |
| aliñad{a|o} | seasoned |
| aliñada | dressed |
| aliño | dressing |
| alitas | wings |
| alli-olli | alioli |
| almejas | clams |
| almendras | almonds |
| almíbar | syrup |
| almuerzos | lunches |
| alta | high |
| alubias | beans |
| anchoa[s] | anchovy |
| anís | aniseed |
| añojo | yearing |
| anzuelo | hook (as in caught by) |
| aperitivos fríos | cold appetizers |
| arándanos | blueberry |
| aroma | aroma |
| aros | rings |
| aros de cebolla | onion rings |
| arrope | syrup |
| arroz, arroces | rice |
| artesan{a|o}[s] | artisan |
| asad{a|o}[s] | roasted/roast |
| asturiano | Asturian |
| atún | tuna |
| auténtica | real |
| avellane[s] | hazelnuts |
| azafrán | saffron |
| azúcar | sugar |
| azúcar glas | icing sugar |
| bacalao | cod |
| bacon | bacon |
| baja | low |
| baja temperature | low temperature |
| balsámico | balsamic |
| bandeja | tray |
| barato | cheap |
| barbacoa | barbecue |
| barra | baguette |
| bebida[s] | drinks |
| beicon | bacon |
| bellota | acorn |
| berenjena[s] | eggplant |
| besugo | sea bream |
| bizcochitos | biscuits |
| bizcocho | sponge cake |
| blanc{a|o} | white |
| blando | soft |
| bocadillos | sandwiches, snacks |
| bocaditos | baby fingers |
| bocados | morsels |
| bocatas | sandwich (like sub, i.e. on roll) |
| bodega | winery |
| bogavante | lobster |
| bola | ball (scoop for ice cream) |
| bollería | bakery [goods]; pastries pastry |
| boquerones | anchovies |
| borraja | borage |
| brasas | barbecued or fire grilled (also a la brasas) |
| braseados | braised |
| brocheta | skewer |
| brotes | shoots, sprouts |
| buey | beef |
| cabra | goat |
| cabracho | red scorpion fish |
| cacahuete | peanut |
| café | coffee |
| calabacín | zucchini |
| calamares | squid |
| calamares en su tinta | squid in ink |
| caldo | stock |
| calidad | quality |
| caliente | hot |
| callos | tripe (even ‘guts’) |
| campo propio | our own field |
| campos | field |
| canela | cinnamon |
| canelone[s] | cannelloni |
| cangrejo | crab |
| canónigos | corn salad (aka lamb’s lettuce) |
| Cantábrico | Bay of Biscay |
| caracoles | snails |
| caramelized{a|o}[s] | caramelized |
| caramelo | caramel |
| carbohidratos | carbohydrates |
| cardo | cardoon |
| careta de cerdo | pigs’s face |
| carne[s] | meat |
| carrillera[s] | cheek[s] |
| carta | a la carte menu |
| casa | house |
| caser{a|o}[s] | homemade |
| castañas | chestnuts |
| Castellana | Castilian |
| cava | Spanish sparkling wine, i.e. “champagne” |
| cazuelita | small casserole dish |
| cebolla | onions |
| cebolleta | chives |
| cecina | cured and dried pork; smoked beef (which?) |
| centollo | spider crab |
| cerdo | pork |
| cerveza | beer |
| chacinas | cold meats |
| champiñones | mushrooms |
| chapatas | sandwich on small roll (like ciabatta) |
| chicharro | horse mackerel |
| chipiron[es] | squid |
| chistorra | cured pork sausage typical of Aragon and Navarre |
| chocolate | chocolate |
| chopitos | baby squid, probably also means battered and fried |
| chorizo de Matanza | chorizo from particular location of origin |
| chuleta | chop, cutlet |
| chuletillas | chops, small chops |
| chuletón | T-bone steak |
| ciervo | deer (venison) |
| cigalas | crayfish |
| ciruela[s] | plum[s] |
| cítricos | citrus |
| clásic{a|o} | classic |
| cliente | client |
| cochinillo | suckling pig |
| cocid{a|o} | cooked (also boiled) |
| cocido | boiled |
| cocina | kitchen; cuisine |
| cocinada | cooked |
| coco | coconut |
| cocochas | fleshy part of jaw (of fish) |
| codornices | quail |
| cogollos | hearts |
| cola | tail |
| coliflor | cauliflower |
| combinados | combinations |
| comedor | dining room |
| comensales | guests |
| comidas | meals |
| compota | compote |
| compota de manzana | applesauce |
| conejo | rabbit |
| confitad{a|o} | confit |
| confitados | candied |
| confituras | jams |
| consistencia | consistency |
| consultar disponibilidad | check availability |
| contramuslos | thighs |
| copa | cup |
| copita | small glass |
| corazón[es] | heart[s] |
| cordero | lamb |
| cordero lechal | suckling lamb |
| cosquera (koskera) | traditional Basque stew |
| costilla[s] | rack, ribs |
| crema | cream |
| crema catalana | Catalan cream (similar to the french crème brûlée but with milk) |
| crema pastelera | custard (aka pastry cream) |
| cremos{a|o} | creamy |
| criollo | Creole |
| cristal | crystal |
| croquetas | croquettes |
| cruda | raw |
| crujiente | crunchy, crispy |
| cuajada | curd |
| cuatro | four |
| cuchara | spoon |
| curación | curing |
| curado | cured |
| cuscus | couscous |
| dados | cubes |
| dátil[es] | dates |
| de corral | free range or farmyard |
| degustación | tasting |
| del día | of the day |
| delicioso | delicious |
| desayunos | breakfast |
| descafeinado | decaffeinated |
| deshidratados | dehydrated |
| diario | daily |
| doble | double |
| Domingo | Sunday |
| dorada | gilt-head bream |
| dos | two |
| dulce | sweet |
| duro | hard |
| ecológica | organic |
| elaboración | preparation |
| elaborado artesanalmente | handcrafted |
| embutido[s] | sausage |
| empanado | breaded |
| en fritura | fried |
| en temporada | in season |
| encargo | custom (order) |
| encina | oak |
| endivia[s] | endives |
| eneldo | dill |
| ensalada[s] | salad |
| ensaladilla | salad |
| entrante[s] | starters |
| entrecot | entrecote |
| entremeses | appetizer, hors d’oeuvres |
| envuelto | wrapped |
| escabechad{a|o}[s] | pickled |
| Escocés | Scottish |
| esparrago triguero | wild asparagus |
| espárrago[s] | asparagus |
| espárragos enteros blancos | white whole asparagus |
| especiada | spices |
| especialidad | specialty |
| espinaca[s] | spinach |
| espolvoreado | sprinkled |
| esponjosa | fluffy/spongy |
| espuma | foam |
| estilo | style |
| estofado | stewed; stew |
| excelencia | excellence |
| festivo | holiday |
| fiambres | cold cuts |
| fideos | noodles |
| filete | steak; fillet |
| fin de semana | weekend |
| fin{a|o}[s] | thin |
| finas hierbas | fine herbs |
| flambeado | flambé |
| flan | flan |
| frambuesa[s] | raspberry |
| Francesa | French |
| fresa[s] | strawberry[ies] strawberry |
| fresc{a|o}o[s] | fresh |
| frí{a|o}[s] | cold |
| frit{a|o}[s] | fried |
| frut{a|o}[s] | fruit |
| fruta de la pasión | passion fruit |
| frutos secos | nuts |
| fundido | melted |
| gabardine | batter coating |
| Gallego | Galician |
| galleta[s] | biscuit (aka cookie) |
| gambas | prawns (medium size, other names tied to size) |
| gambones | large shrimp |
| garbanzos | chickpea |
| gelatina | jelly |
| glaseadas | glazed |
| gluten | gluten |
| gotas | drops |
| gramos | grams |
| gratinad{a|o}[s] | gratinated (au gratin) |
| gratinado | grated (unlikely as rallar is to grate) |
| Griega | Greek |
| grosella | currant |
| guarnición[es] | garnish |
| guindilla | pepper |
| guisad{a|o}[s] | stewed |
| guisantes | peas |
| guisos | stews |
| guisotes | stews |
| gulas | fake small eels /elvers |
| habitas | bean (small) |
| hamburguesas | burgers hamburger |
| harina de maíz | cornmeal |
| hechos en casa | homemade |
| helado | ice cream |
| hielo | ice |
| hierbabuena | mint |
| hierbas | herbs |
| hierbas provenzales | Provencal herbs |
| higado | liver |
| hoja | leaf |
| hoja de parra | grapeleaf |
| hojaldre | puff pastry |
| hongos | mushroom |
| horario | hours |
| hornead{a|o}[s] | baked |
| huertas | garden; orchards (aka produce farm, market garden) |
| huevo | egg |
| huevo duro | hard-boiled egg |
| incluido | included |
| ingredientes | ingredients |
| intenso | intense |
| Irlandés | Irish |
| Italiana | Italian |
| jalapeño | jalapeño |
| jamón | ham |
| Jamón Ibérico de Bellota | acorn-fed Iberian ham |
| jenibre | ginger |
| jerez | sherry |
| jijas | minced pork to make sausages, cooked as tapa |
| judia verde | green beans |
| judío | Jewish |
| Jueves | Thursday |
| jugo[s] | juice[s] |
| jugosas | juicy |
| jurel | horse mackerel |
| kebap | kebab |
| kokochas (k is Basque, so Spanish is cocochas) | fleshy part of the jaw |
| lacón | dried pork product |
| lagarto | lizard (cheap cut of meat) |
| láminas | slices |
| langostinos | prawns |
| lasaña | lasagna |
| lascas | slices (or chips) |
| lechazo | (unweaned) baby lamb |
| leche | milk |
| lechuga | lettuce |
| leña | firewood |
| lenguado | sole |
| lentejas | lentils |
| licor | liqueur or liquor |
| ligero | light |
| lima | lime |
| limón | lemon |
| liofilizada | lyophilized (aka freeze-dried) |
| lomitos | tenderloin, loins |
| lomo[s] | loin (and particular type of dried pork) |
| loncha[s] | slices |
| lubina | sea bass |
| macarrones | macaroni |
| macerados | macerated |
| madurada | matured |
| mahonesa | mayonnaise |
| maíz | corn |
| majuelo | young vine (aka hawthorn) |
| manillas | lit: handles/hands, but probably feet; trotters |
| manitas de cerdo | pork trotters |
| manos | feet |
| manteca | butter |
| mantequilla | butter |
| manzana[s] | apple |
| maracuyá | passion fruit |
| marinad{a|o}[s] | marinated |
| marisco[s] | seafood (generic, although often shellfish) |
| masa | dough |
| masa madre | sourdough |
| mayonesa | mayonnaise |
| medallones | medallions |
| Mediterránea | Mediterranean |
| Mejicana | Mexican |
| mejillon[es] | mussels |
| mejores | best |
| melocotón | peach |
| melón | melon |
| melosas | sweet |
| membrillo | quince, quince jelly |
| menestra | vegetable stew |
| menta | mint |
| mercado | market |
| merienda | snack (light meal, like British tea) |
| merluza | hake |
| mermelada | jam |
| mero | grouper |
| mero salvaje | wild grouper |
| mesa | table |
| meses | months |
| mezcla | mix |
| mezclum | mesclun |
| miel | honey |
| migas del pastor | lit: shepherd’s crumbs (seasoned bread crumbs) |
| milhojas | mille-feuille, aka napolean |
| mínimo | minimum |
| mitica | legendary |
| mixt{a|o} | mixed |
| módena | balsamic vinegar |
| mollejas | gizzards; sweetbreads |
| mollete | a soft round white flatbread |
| montaña | mountain |
| moras | blackberries |
| morcilla | blood sausage |
| moreno | brown |
| morro[s] | snout, lips, cheeks, nose |
| morunos | lit: Moorish, kebab of marinated pork |
| mostaza[s] | mustard |
| mulo | mule |
| mundo | world |
| muslitos | nuggets |
| muslo | drumstick |
| naranja | orange |
| nata | cream |
| nata montada | whipped cream |
| natillas | custard |
| navajas | razor clams |
| negra[s] | black |
| novedad | novelty |
| nuez/nueces | nuts (sometimes walnuts) |
| nuestra | our |
| nuestras especialidades | our specialties |
| oca | goose |
| oliva | olive |
| oporto | port or port sauce |
| orégano | oregano |
| oreja | ear |
| orejones | dried apricot |
| otros | other |
| oveja | sheep |
| paladar[es] | palate[s] |
| Palentina | Palencia style |
| paletas | shoulder |
| paletilla | shoulder |
| pan | bread |
| pan artesano | artisan bread |
| pan de fabiola | type of bread from Palencia |
| panadera | bakery |
| para compartir | to share |
| para picar | to nibble |
| parmesano | parmesan cheese |
| parra | vine |
| parrillada | grilled (plate of) |
| pasas | currants or raisins |
| pastel | cake |
| pata de mulo | mule leg (type of cheese in Leon) |
| pata[s] | leg |
| patata | potato |
| patata panadera | baking/baked potato |
| patata[s] | potato |
| pato | duck |
| pavo | turkey |
| pechuga[s] | breast |
| pepinillo[s] | pickle; gherkin |
| pepino | cucumber |
| pepitas | chips |
| pepito | meat filled sandwich |
| pequeña[s] | small |
| pera[s] | pear |
| perdiz | partridge |
| perejil | parsley |
| perfumado | perfumed |
| perrito [caliente] | hot dog |
| pescados | fish |
| picada | minced |
| picante | spicy |
| picatostes | croutons |
| picoteo | nibbling or snacking |
| piel | skin |
| pimentón | paprika |
| pimiento | pepper |
| pimientos | peppers |
| pimientos de temporada | seasonal peppers |
| pimientos del Piquillo | Piquillo peppers |
| pimientos verdes | green peppers |
| piña | pineapple |
| piña caramelizada | caramelized pineapple |
| pincho[s] | skewer[s] |
| piñones | pine nuts |
| pipa de calabaza | pumpkin |
| pistacho | pistachio |
| plátano | banana |
| plato fuerte | main entree |
| platos | dishes (although literally plate) |
| pluma | lit: feather, a cut of pork in front of loin |
| pochada | poached |
| pollo | chicken |
| pollo frito | fried chicken |
| por encargo | on request |
| postres | desserts |
| potro | horse or colt |
| precio fijo | fixed price |
| precio[s] | price |
| prensado | pressed |
| presa | a flavorful shoulder cut |
| primer | first (course) |
| primeros platos | first courses |
| proteinas | proteins |
| puding | pudding |
| puerro | leek |
| pulguitas | small closed-baguette sandwich |
| pulpo | octopus |
| puntillitas | battered and fried tiny squid |
| purés de patata | mashed potatoes |
| queso | cheese |
| queso {crema|cremoso} | cream cheese |
| queso de cabra | goat cheese |
| queso de oveja | pecorino |
| queso parmesano | parmesan cheese |
| queso[s] | cheese[s] cheese |
| quisquillas | squid |
| rabas | rings of squid |
| rabo | tail (oxtail) |
| rabo de buey | oxtail |
| raciones | portions |
| rallado | grated |
| rape | monkfish |
| rebozado | batter/battered; breaded |
| receta[s] | recipe[s] |
| redondo | round (cut of beef) |
| redución | reduction |
| referencias | references |
| refresco | soft drink |
| rellen{a|o}[s] | stuffed |
| remolacha | beet |
| remolinos | swirls |
| revuelto[s] | scrambled egg dish (other ingredients than egg) |
| rincon | corner, nook |
| riñones | kidneys |
| rodaballo | turbot |
| rodaja[s] | slice |
| roj{a|o}[s] | red |
| rollito | roll |
| romero | rosemary |
| rosa | pink |
| rotos | broken (fried eggs with broken yolk) |
| rúcola rúcula | arugula (aka rocket) |
| rulo | roll |
| Rusa | Russian |
| Sábados | Saturday |
| sabor | flavor (also taste) |
| sabrosas | tasty |
| sal | salt |
| salame | salami |
| salazón | salting |
| salchicha | sausage |
| salchichón | sausage (cured, not generic for sausage) |
| salmón | salmon |
| salsa | sauce |
| saltead{a|o}[s] | sautéed |
| salvaje | wild |
| salvia | sage |
| sardina | sardine |
| sartén | frying pan |
| seco | dried |
| segundo | second (course) |
| segundo plato | Second course |
| seis | six |
| selección | selection |
| seleccionado | selected |
| selvática | wild |
| sepia | cuttlefish |
| servido | served |
| sésamo | sesame |
| setas | mushroom |
| sidra | cider |
| sidrería | cider bar |
| siempre | usual (aka always) |
| sirope | syrup |
| solomillo | tenderloin, sirloin |
| sopa | soup |
| sorpresa | surprise |
| suave | soft |
| surtido | assorted, assortment |
| tabla[s] | board (platter or plank); sometimes table |
| tarrina | tub (small container in the shape of inverted truncated cone) |
| tarta[s] | cake |
| tarta de queso | cheesecake |
| tartaletas | tartlets |
| taza | cup |
| temperatura | temperature |
| templad{a|o} | warm, tempered, lukewarm |
| ternera | veal (sometimes beef) beef (usually veal) |
| terrina | terrine |
| tiempo | time |
| tiern{a|o}[s] | tender (also young) |
| tigres | stuffed mussels |
| tinta | ink |
| típìco | typical |
| tipo | type |
| tiras | strips |
| tocinillo de cielo | pudding made with egg yolk and syrup |
| tomate[s] | tomato |
| toque | touch (as in small amount) |
| torreznos | chunk of fried bacon |
| torrija | French toast |
| torta | cake |
| tortitas | pancakes |
| tostada | toast, toasted |
| tostas | toast |
| tradición | tradition |
| tragòn | glutton |
| tres | three |
| trigo | wheat |
| triguero | wheat |
| trocitos | chips |
| tropezones | small piece |
| trozos | pieces |
| trufa[s] | truffle[s] |
| trufado | truffled |
| turcas | Turkish |
| turrón | almond nougat candy |
| unidad[es] | units (as in number of pieces served) |
| untados | spread |
| uvas pasas | raisins (or just pasas) |
| vaca | cow (terms for beef get complicated) |
| vacuno | beef |
| vainilla | vanilla |
| vari{a|e}d{a|o}[s] | varied, assorted, variety |
| vaso | glass |
| vegetal | in some contexts, vegetarian |
| vegetal[es] | vegetable |
| vegetarianas | vegetarians |
| ventresca | lit: belly, usually tuna |
| verde | green |
| verduras | vegetable |
| verduras de invierno | winter vegetable |
| verduritas | vegetables |
| vieiras | scallops |
| Viernes | Friday |
| vinagre | vinegar |
| vinagreta | vinaigrette |
| vino tinto | red wine |
| vino[s] | wine |
| virgen | virgin |
| virgen extra | extra virgin |
| virutas | shavings |
| vísperas | eve |
| yema de huevo | egg yolk |
| yemas | yolks (of eggs); buds or shoots (of plant) |
| yogur | yogurt |
| zamburiñas | variegated scallops |
| zanahoria[s] | carrot |
| zumo | juice |
