Every food and drink word on the CEFR-levelled Lock&Learn Spanish lists with its meaning, the beginner ones in a real sentence. Filter it, flip it into flashcards, or carry it on your Lock Screen with Lock&Learn Spanish.
Food and drink in Spanish: meals, dishes, fruit and vegetables, drinks, the verbs for eating and drinking, and the words you need in a restaurant. The three meals are el desayuno, la comida (or el almuerzo) and la cena, and in Spain lunch is the big one, eaten around two or later.
In Lock&Learn Spanish these words sit in their level packs (Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate and more), one per glance on the widget: a word waits on the widget, readable from day one; one tap reveals the meaning and a real sentence. Beginner is free in full; every other pack opens with a free preview.
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| Word | Meaning | Level | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| rico | tasty or delicious | A1 | ¡Este chocolate está muy rico!This chocolate is delicious! |
| naranja | orange | A1 | La naranja es una fruta muy rica.The orange is a very delicious fruit. |
| helado | ice cream or frozen/very cold | A1 | Quiero un helado de chocolate, por favor.I'd like a chocolate ice cream, please. |
| vino tinto | red wine | A1 | ¿Quieres un vino tinto?Do you want some red wine? |
| vino blanco | white wine | A1 | ¿Bebo un poco de vino blanco?I am drinking a little white wine. |
| manzana | apple | A1 | Yo como una manzana roja.I eat a red apple. |
| desayuno | breakfast | A1 | ¿Qué desayunas tú?What do you have for breakfast? |
| comida | food / lunch | A1 | ¿A qué hora es la comida?What time is lunch? |
| merienda | afternoon snack | A1 | ¿A qué hora es la merienda?What time is the afternoon snack? |
| cena | dinner | A1 | ¿La cena es a las ocho?Is dinner at eight o'clock? |
| desayunar | to have breakfast | A1 | ¿A qué hora desayunas?What time do you have breakfast? |
| comer | to eat | A1 | ¿Quieres comer una manzana?Do you want to eat an apple? |
| cenar | to have dinner | A1 | ¿Quieres cenar conmigo esta noche?Do you want to have dinner with me tonight? |
| agua con gas | sparkling water | A1 | ¿Quieres agua con gas o sin gas?Do you want sparkling water or still water? |
| leche | milk | A1 | ¿Quieres leche en el café?Do you want milk with your coffee? |
| té | tea | A1 | ¿Quieres tomar un té conmigo?Do you want to have a tea with me? |
| café solo | black coffee | A1 | ¿Quieres un café solo?Do you want a black coffee? |
| café con leche | coffee with milk | A1 | ¿Quieres un café con leche?Do you want a coffee with milk? |
| cerveza | beer | A1 | ¿Quieres una cerveza fría?Do you want a cold beer? |
| beber | to drink | A1 | ¿Quieres beber agua?Do you want to drink water? |
| botella | bottle | A1 | Tengo una botella de agua en la mesa.I have a bottle of water on the table. |
| carne | meat | A1 | ¿Quieres comer carne hoy?Do you want to eat meat today? |
| pescado | fish for eating | A1 | ¿Hoy comemos pescado y patatas?Are we eating fish and potatoes today? |
| fruta | fruit | A1 | ¿Comes fruta todos los días?I eat fruit every day. |
| verdura | vegetable | A1 | Como verdura fresca cada día.I eat fresh vegetables every day. |
| huevos | eggs | A1 | ¿Para el desayuno comes dos huevos?I eat two eggs for breakfast. |
| pan | bread | A1 | Necesito comprar pan para el desayuno.I need to buy bread for breakfast. |
| bocadillo | sandwich | A1 | ¿Quieres un bocadillo de queso?Do you want a cheese sandwich? |
| sándwich | sandwich | A1 | Yo como un sándwich de jamón.I eat a ham sandwich. |
| hamburguesa | hamburger | A1 | Yo como una hamburguesa con queso.I am eating a cheeseburger. |
| lechuga | lettuce | A1 | ¿La ensalada lleva tomate y lechuga?The salad has tomato and lettuce. |
| tomate | tomato | A1 | La ensalada lleva tomate.The salad contains tomato. |
| zanahoria | carrot | A1 | ¿Comes una zanahoria?Do you eat a carrot? |
| plátano | banana | A1 | Me gusta mucho el plátano.I like bananas a lot. |
| patata | potato | A1 | ¿La patata está en el plato?Is the potato on the plate? |
| cebolla | onion | A1 | La ensalada tiene cebolla.The salad has onion in it. |
| queso | cheese | A1 | ¿Te gusta el queso?Do you like cheese? |
| yogur | yogurt | A1 | El niño desayuna un yogur.The boy eats a yogurt for breakfast. |
| mantequilla | butter | A1 | ¿Quieres mantequilla con el pan?Do you want butter with the bread? |
| atún | tuna fish | A1 | Compro una lata de atún.I buy a can of tuna. |
| pasta | pasta | A1 | ¿Comemos hoy pasta con tomate?Shall we eat pasta with tomato sauce today? |
| arroz | rice | A1 | Yo como arroz con verduras.I eat rice with vegetables. |
| chocolate | chocolate | A1 | ¿Te gusta el chocolate?Do you like chocolate? |
| galletas | cookies or crackers | A1 | ¿Quieres unas galletas con el café?Do you want some cookies with your coffee? |
| cereales | cereal breakfast food | A1 | Para desayunar, tomo cereales con leche.For breakfast, I have cereal with milk. |
| azúcar | sugar | A1 | ¿Quieres azúcar en el café?Do you want sugar in your coffee? |
| sal | salt | A1 | Necesito un poco de sal para la ensalada.I need a little bit of salt for the salad. |
| aceite | oil (cooking) | A1 | Necesito un poco de aceite para cocinar.I need a little olive oil to cook. |
| tarta de manzana | apple pie | A1 | ¿Te gusta la tarta de manzana?Do you like apple pie? |
| cocinar | to cook | A1 | ¿Quieres cocinar hoy con nosotros?Do you want to cook with us today? |
| postre | dessert | A1 | ¿Qué quieres de postre?What would you like for dessert? |
| sopa | soup | A1 | ¿Quieres la sopa de primero?Do you want the soup for the first course? |
| ensalada | salad | A1 | ¿Comes una ensalada?Do you eat a salad? |
| paella | paella (a Spanish rice dish) | A1 | Hoy vamos a comer paella.We are going to eat paella today. |
| tortilla | Spanish omelette | A1 | ¿Quieres una tortilla?Do you want a Spanish omelette? |
| plato | plate | A1 | Lava el plato en la cocina.Wash the plate in the kitchen. |
| vaso | drinking glass | A1 | ¿Me das un vaso de agua, por favor?Can you give me a glass of water, please? |
| taza | tea or coffee cup | A1 | Tengo una taza de té.I have a cup of tea. |
| bar | bar or café | A1 | El bar está cerca de la plaza.The bar is near the square. |
| restaurante | restaurant | A1 | ¿Dónde está el restaurante?Where is the restaurant? |
| camarero | waiter | A1 | El camarero trae la comida.The waiter brings the food. |
| cafetería | café or cafeteria | A1 | ¿La cafetería está abierta?Is the café open? |
| pizzería | pizzeria | A1 | Vamos a cenar a una pizzería.We are going to eat dinner at a pizzeria. |
| cocinero | cook | A1 | ¿El cocinero prepara la comida?The cook prepares the food. |
| cuchara | spoon | A1 | Necesito una cuchara para la sopa.I need a spoon for the soup. |
| tenedor | fork | A1 | Perdón, ¿me trae un tenedor, por favor?Excuse me, could you bring me a fork, please? |
| cuchillo | knife | A1 | Necesito un cuchillo para el pan.I need a knife for the bread. |
| agua | water | A1 | ¿Quieres agua o zumo?Do you want water or juice? |
| refresco | soft drink | A1 | Para mí, un refresco de limón, por favor.A lemon soft drink for me, please. |
| delicioso | delicious | A1 | ¡Este café está delicioso!This coffee is delicious! |
| cucharada | a spoonful | A2 | |
| hervir | to boil | A2 | |
| cocer | to boil / to cook | A2 | |
| congelado | frozen | A2 | |
| dulce | sweet | A2 | |
| salado | containing much salt | A2 | |
| amargo | bitter | A2 | |
| picante | spicy or hot | A2 | |
| probar | to taste or try (food) | A2 | |
| vino rosado | rosé wine | A2 | |
| merendar | to have a snack | A2 | |
| infusión | herbal tea | A2 | |
| ron | rum | A2 | |
| champán | champagne | A2 | |
| lata | can or tin | A2 | |
| ajo | garlic | A2 | |
| perejil | parsley | A2 | |
| mayonesa | mayonnaise | A2 | |
| salsa | sauce | A2 | |
| salmón | salmon | A2 | |
| sardina | sardine | A2 | |
| gambas | prawns or shrimp | A2 | |
| pimienta | black pepper spice | A2 | |
| filete | steak | A2 | |
| jamón York | ham | A2 | |
| receta | recipe | A2 | |
| ingrediente | food ingredient | A2 | |
| tapa | small snack portion | A2 | |
| aperitivo | pre-meal appetizer | A2 | |
| servilleta | table napkin | A2 | |
| comida rápida | fast food | A2 | |
| chef | chef / head cook | A2 | |
| calorías | calories | A2 | |
| vitaminas | vitamins | A2 | |
| vino de la casa | house wine | A2 | |
| marisco | seafood and shellfish | A2 | |
| especias | cooking spices | A2 | |
| salchichón | cured pork sausage | A2 | |
| chorizo | cured paprika sausage | A2 | |
| berenjena | eggplant | A2 | |
| calabacín | zucchini (or courgette) | A2 | |
| espinacas | spinach | A2 | |
| guisantes | peas | A2 | |
| lentejas | lentils | A2 | |
| judías | green beans | A2 | |
| garbanzos | chickpeas | A2 | |
| bizcocho | cake | A2 | |
| magdalena | cupcake or muffin | A2 | |
| cereza | cherry | A2 | |
| piña | pineapple | A2 | |
| kiwi | kiwi fruit | A2 | |
| leche entera | whole milk | A2 | |
| leche desnatada | skim milk | A2 | |
| nata | cream | A2 | |
| margarina | margarine | A2 | |
| aceite de oliva | olive oil | A2 | |
| aceite de girasol | sunflower oil | A2 | |
| vinagre | vinegar | A2 | |
| mostaza | mustard | A2 | |
| ingredientes | ingredients | A2 | |
| crudo | raw | A2 | |
| poco hecho | rare | A2 | |
| freír | to fry food | A2 | |
| asar | to roast / to grill | A2 | |
| gazpacho | cold tomato soup | A2 | |
| croquetas | croquettes | A2 | |
| para llevar | to go / takeout | A2 | |
| ir de copas | to go for drinks | A2 | |
| congelados | frozen foods | A2 | |
| lácteos | dairy products | A2 | |
| bebidas | drinks | A2 | |
| cordero | lamb | A2 | |
| agua del grifo | tap water | A2 | |
| dulces | sweets or candy | A2 | |
| caramelo | piece of candy | A2 | |
| pan integral | wholemeal bread | A2 | |
| salsa de soja | soy sauce | A2 | |
| col | cabbage | A2 | |
| cucharilla | teaspoon | A2 | |
| merluza | hake fish | B1 | |
| queso fresco | fresh white cheese | B1 | |
| pescado blanco | white fish | B1 | |
| matar la sed | to quench one's thirst | B2 | |
| aliñar | to dress salad | B2 | |
| lenguado | sole fish | B2 | |
| dorada | sea bream fish | B2 | |
| salsa verde | green sauce (made with herbs) | B2 | |
| cochinillo | suckling pig | B2 | |
| salmonete | red mullet | C1 | |
| engullir | to wolf down (food) | C1 | |
| zampar | to scarf down food | C1 | |
| aderezar | to season or dress | C1 | |
| lombarda | red cabbage | C1 | |
| matar el gusanillo | to take the edge off one's hunger | C2 | |
| tirabeque | snow pea | C2 | |
| níscalo | saffron milk cap (mushroom) | C2 | |
| robellón | saffron milk cap (mushroom) | C2 |
Word lists follow the Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes inventories, with Lock&Learn's own level calibration. Definitions adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences are original Lock&Learn content.
The 167 words below are every food and drink word on the CEFR-levelled Lock&Learn Spanish lists, from the first words of A1 to the dishes and ingredients of the higher levels, each with its English meaning. To order, ask for quiero or me pone (in Spain) plus the dish, and la cuenta, por favor for the bill.
70 from A1, 79 from A2, 3 from B1, 6 from B2, 5 from C1, 4 from C2. The level chip on each row says where the word sits, so you can stop at your level or read ahead. Beginner-level words carry a real example sentence; the rest show word and meaning, with their sentences in the app.
Install Lock&Learn Spanish, then touch and hold your Lock Screen, tap Customize, tap the widget area and choose Lock&Learn Spanish. Enable the level packs these words come from (Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate and more). A word waits on the widget, readable from day one; one tap reveals the meaning and a real sentence.
Yes. The app is free on iOS: Beginner is free in full, and every other pack opens with a free preview. Lock&Learn+ is an optional upgrade that opens every pack at once, offered as a yearly plan (with a 3-day free trial) or a monthly plan.