Translations of Popular Spanish Food

Spanish Tapas Translated

Decipher those unintelligible menus with this glossary of popular Spanish food. Print it out and put it in your wallet before you go - you'll be thankful for it when you're trying to avoid ordering the snails!

• Allioli - Garlic mayo, no matter how ‘traditionally Catalan’ the waiter tells you it is

• Albóndigas - Meatballs

• Aceitunas - Olives

• Bacalao - Cod

• Boquerones - Anchovies

• Berenjenas - Eggplant/Aubergine

• Calamares - Fried squid rings.

• Caracoles - Snails

• Cazón - Dogfish, usually fried.

• Chorizo - Spicy sausage

• Gambas - Prawns, often fried in garlic (al ajillo)

• Gazpacho - often unappetizingly described as a cold soup, but perhaps more accurately referred to as a liquid salad

• Jamón Serrano/Iberico - cured ham. A national obsession. Melón con jamon Serrano is not a typo – it really is melon and ham.

• Lomo - Pork loin

• Merluza - Hake

• Migas - Fried breadcrumbs

• Morcilla - Black pudding

• Paella - Erm, paella. Read more on Paella in Spain

• Pan con tomate - Bread topped with tomato, oil and garlic. The most typically Catalan dish, simple but delicious. Can be eaten on its own or with cold meats and cheeses.

• Pisto - Stew of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and zucchini

• Pulpo - octopus

• Salchichón - Sausage or salami

• Tortilla - Spanish omelette with potato and onion.