Take Note

Gastro terms that the RAE recommends using in Spanish instead of with foreign words

Words like 'foodie', 'hot dog' or 'healthy' have come into daily use in the gastronomic world, but the Fundación del Español Urgente (FundéuRAE) recommends using the existing alternatives in Spanish.

Click here to read the Spanish version.
Using Anglo-Saxon terminology always gives the speech a cool touch. In marketing, and increasingly in gastronomy, this type of language is the order of the day. In an attempt to vindicate culinary terms in our language, the Fundación del Español Urgente (FundéuRAE) shared an article in which it recommends not to abuse foreign words and to opt for Spanish alternatives instead. Next, take note of the dictionary of food and gastronomy proposed by the RAE. Because, in addition to words as traditional as cocido, paella or torreznos, the Spanish culinary glossary has much more to offer.

Términos gastro que recomienda la RAE utilizar en español

To begin with, this dictionary includes a term as widespread as foodie would find its alternative in Spanish in the word ‘comidista’, to refer to those people who feel great fondness for food, cooking and everything that moves around the gastronomic world. Although, for example, the RAE excludes from this list other words such as gourmet -which comes from French-, and that instead could be used synonyms such as sibarita, gastronome or exquisite, depending on the context.

Gastronomic dictionary in Spanish, according to the RAE (Royal Spanish Academy).

  • bacon: bacón, beicon
  • baguette: baguete
  • beefsteak: bistec, bife
  • bowl: bol, cuenco, tazón
  • buffet: bufé
  • burger: hamburguesa
  • cake: bizcocho
  • cocktail: coctel/cóctel
  • couscous: cuscús
  • craft beer:cerveza artesanal
  • crêpe: crep, crepa, crepe
  • fast food: comida rápida
  • fingers (de pollo): tiras (de pollo)
  • finger food: comida para picar, picoteo
  • flake: copo
  • foodie: comidista
  • food truck: gastroneta
  • green: verde
  • grill: parrilla, gratinador
  • healthy: saludable
  • hot dog: perrito/perro (caliente), pancho, jocho
  • pancake: panqueque, tortita
  • pop corn: palomitas de maíz, cotufas, rosetas (entre otras)
  • raw: crudo
  • roast beef: rosbif
  • shaker: coctelera
  • showcooking: cocina en vivo/directo, demostración culinaria
  • street food: comida callejera
  • sommelier: sumiller
  • topping: ingrediente (adicional), extra, cobertura
  • wrap: rol, enrolado

What other gastro concepts that we usually use in another language would you include in this list to vindicate their terminology in Spanish?