Food vocabulary in English

Learn all the food vocabulary in English: fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, phrasal verbs, idioms and useful phrases for restaurants.

Have you ever gone blank when trying to order your favourite dish in an English restaurant? Or have you had to point at the menu because you didn’t know how to pronounce that ingredient? Don’t worry, it’s something that has even happened to me at some point. Food vocabulary in English is one of the most useful and practical things you can learn, whether you’re preparing for a Cambridge exam, or you simply want to travel without complications or understand those YouTube recipes you love so much. 🤤

In this article, we are going to explore all the essential food-related vocabulary in English: from the most basic fruit and vegetables to idiomatic expressions that will make you sound like a native. And best of all: with practical examples so you know exactly how and when to use each word. Let’s dig in!

Meals of the day in English (and their cultural differences)

Before we jump into memorising endless lists of food, it’s important to understand how meals of the day are structured in English. And here comes the first surprise: it’s not exactly the same as in Spain or Latin America.

The main meals of the day are:

• Breakfast – desayuno
• Lunch – lunch/midday meal
• Dinner – dinner (usually the main meal of the day, especially during the week)
• Supper – light dinner (less common, more British)
• Snack – snack/tentempié

When you talk about these meals, remember to use the verb «to have»:

• «What time do you usually have breakfast?» – ¿A qué hora sueles desayunar?
• «I had lunch at 1 p.m.» – Comí a la 1 del mediodía.
• «We’re having dinner at 7 tonight.» – Vamos a cenar a las 7 esta noche.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner: when do people eat in English-speaking countries?

One of the most striking cultural differences is meal times. While in Spain it’s perfectly normal to have dinner at 10 at night (we’re a bit… crazy), in the UK or the United States, to give some English-speaking examples, this would be unthinkable.

In the UK:

• Breakfast: between 7:00 and 9:00. It’s usually quite substantial, especially the famous full English breakfast with bacon, sausages, eggs, baked beans, mushrooms and toast, which is more common at the weekend. Imagine going to work after eating all that…
• Lunch: around 12:00-13:00. It can be something light like a sandwich or a salad.
• Dinner: between 18:00 and 19:30. It’s usually the main meal of the day, as I said before, especially during the week.

In the United States:

• Breakfast: 7:00-9:00. It can be pancakes, cereals, bagels, toast or something quick.
• Lunch: 12:00-13:00. Often fast food or a packed lunch (food you bring from home).
• Dinner: 18:00-19:00. The most important family meal.

Brunch, tea time and other special meals

Besides the three main meals, there are other options worth knowing:

• Brunch: This word is a combination of breakfast + lunch. It’s a late breakfast or early lunch, typically at weekends between 10:00 and 14:00. It’s perfect for those who get up late and want to skip traditional breakfast.

🇬🇧 Shall we meet for brunch on Sunday?
🇪🇸 ¿Quedamos para un brunch el domingo?

• Tea time (or afternoon tea): A very British tradition that consists of having tea accompanied by scones, small sandwiches and cakes around 16:00-17:00.

• Elevenses: An informal mid-morning snack, around 11:00 (hence its curious name), very common in the UK. It can be a coffee with a biscuit or a small snack.

Basic food vocabulary in English by categories

Now, let’s get to what you’re really interested in: specific food vocabulary. I’ve organised it by categories to make it easier for you to learn and remember.

Fruit in English (fruits)

Fruit is one of the first vocabulary groups we learn, but there’s always one that escapes us. Here are the most common ones and some less well-known ones:

Example:

🇬🇧 I love to have a banana and some strawberries for breakfast.
🇪🇸 Me encanta tomar un plátano y unas fresas para desayunar.

Vegetables in English (vegetables)

Vegetables are essential in any balanced diet. Here are the most important ones:

Example:

🇬🇧 Could you add some mushrooms and peppers to my pizza, please?
🇪🇸 ¿Podrías añadir champiñones y pimientos a mi pizza, por favor?

Meats in English (meat and poultry)

Meat is a particularly important topic because there is a lot of confusion among Spanish speakers. For example, many believe that «beef» means any type of meat, when in reality it refers specifically to meat from a cow.

Types of meat:

Cuts and preparations:

Example:

🇬🇧 I’d like a medium-rare sirloin steak with a side of vegetables.
🇪🇸 Me gustaría un filete de lomo al punto con verduras de guarnición.

Fish and seafood in English (fish and seafood)

Fish and seafood are especially complicated because many names look nothing like their Spanish equivalents. Here are the most important ones:

Example:

🇬🇧 The grilled salmon with prawns looks delicious!
🇪🇸 ¡El salmón a la plancha con gambas tiene una pinta deliciosa!

Dairy in English (dairy products)

Dairy products are fundamental in British and American cooking. Here are the most common ones:

Example:

🇬🇧 I need some double cream and cheddar cheese for the recipe.
🇪🇸 Necesito nata para montar y queso cheddar para la receta.

Cereals, pulses and nuts

These foods are staples in any pantry and essential for a balanced diet:

Example:

🇬🇧 I usually have porridge with almonds and honey for breakfast.
🇪🇸 Normalmente tomo gachas de avena con almendras y miel para desayunar.

Drinks in English (beverages and drinks)

Drinks are a common topic of conversation, so it’s important to master this vocabulary:

Example:

🇬🇧 Would you like tea or coffee?
🇪🇸 ¿Quieres té o café?

Condiments, spices and sauces in English

Spices and condiments are what give flavour to our dishes. Here are the most commonly used ones in international cuisine:

Example:

🇬🇧 Add some basil, oregano and a pinch of salt to the tomato sauce.
🇪🇸 Añade un poco de albahaca, orégano y una pizca de sal a la salsa de tomate.

Sweets and desserts in English

Who doesn’t like a good dessert? Here is the essential vocabulary to order your favourite sweet treat:

Example:

🇬🇧 For dessert, I’ll have the chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream, please.
🇪🇸 De postre tomaré el brownie de chocolate con helado de vainilla, por favor.

Typical dishes and fast food in English

Knowing common dishes will help you immensely when eating out or when looking at menus in English:

Example:

🇬🇧 Let’s order some fish and chips from that new place.
🇪🇸 Vamos a pedir fish and chips de ese sitio nuevo.

How to describe food in English

It’s not enough to know the names of food. To really be able to talk about food in English, you need to know how to describe it. This is especially useful if you are writing a review for B2 of a restaurant or if you just want to express your opinion on a dish.

Flavours in English (flavours): sweet, salty, bitter, sour…

The basic flavours are fundamental for describing any dish:

Textures in English: crunchy, creamy, tender…

Textures are equally important for describing food:

Cooking methods: fried, grilled, baked, steamed…

Knowing how a dish is prepared is essential, both for ordering it and for cooking it:

For meat, it is also important to know the degree of cooking:

Example:

🇬🇧 How would you like your steak? Medium-rare, please.
🇪🇸 ¿Cómo quiere el bistec? Poco hecho, por favor.

Countable and uncountable food in English: how to use them correctly?

This is one of the most confusing aspects of food vocabulary in English, because it doesn’t always match Spanish. The distinction between countable and uncountable food is fundamental for correctly using the words much/many, a few/a little, and for knowing when to use the plural.

Countable foods are those that we can count individually:

• An apple, two apples, three apples…
• An egg, two eggs, three eggs…
• A carrot, two carrots…
• A potato, two potatoes…
• An orange, two oranges…

With countables, we use:

• How many…? – ¿Cuántos/as?
• A few – unas pocas / unos pocos
• Many – muchas / muchos
• Several – varias / varios

Uncountable foods are those that we cannot count individually (because they are liquids, substances, or general concepts):

• Water (not «a water» or «two waters»)
• Milk
• Bread (not «a bread» or «two breads»)
• Rice
• Cheese
• Sugar
• Butter
• Coffee
• Flour
• Meat
• Fish (as a substance)

With uncountables, we use:

• How much…? – ¿Cuánto/a?
• A little – un poco
• Much – mucho
• Some – algo de

But there is a solution: when we want to «count» uncountable foods, we use quantity expressions:

Examples:

🇬🇧 How many apples do we need?
🇪🇸 ¿Cuántas manzanas necesitamos?

🇬🇧 How much bread do we need?
🇪🇸 ¿Cuánto pan necesitamos?

🇬🇧 How many slices of bread do we need?
🇪🇸 ¿Cuántas rebanadas de pan necesitamos?

Important trick: Some foods can be countable or uncountable depending on the context:

• Chicken (uncountable) = chicken meat → «I don’t eat chicken.»
• A chicken (countable) = a chicken (the animal) → «The farmer has twenty chickens.»
• Coffee (uncountable) = coffee as a substance → «I love coffee.»
• A coffee (countable) = a cup of coffee → «Can I have two coffees, please?»

Healthy food vocabulary and special diets

It is increasingly common for people to follow specific diets for health, ethical or religious reasons. That’s why it’s also important to know this vocabulary, especially when eating out or going to the supermarket in an English-speaking country.

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other options

Here is the essential vocabulary on diets and food options:

Useful phrases:

🇬🇧 Is there a vegetarian option?
🇪🇸 ¿Hay opción vegetariana?

🇬🇧 I’m vegan, does this contain any dairy?
🇪🇸 Soy vegano/a, ¿esto contiene lácteos?

🇬🇧 I’m allergic to nuts.
🇪🇸 Soy alérgico/a a los frutos secos.

🇬🇧 Do you have any gluten-free bread?
🇪🇸 ¿Tenéis pan sin gluten?

🇬🇧 Is this dish dairy-free?
🇪🇸 ¿Este plato no lleva lácteos?

🇬🇧 I’m on a low-carb diet.
🇪🇸 Estoy siguiendo una dieta baja en carbohidratos.

🇬🇧 Are the eggs free-range?
🇪🇸 ¿Los huevos son de corral?

Other terms related to healthy eating:

Useful phrases for ordering food in English

Knowing all the vocabulary is of no use if you then don’t know how to use it in real situations. Therefore, here are the most useful phrases for getting by in restaurants and supermarkets.

In a restaurant

On arrival:

When ordering:

During the meal:

When paying:

In a supermarket

English is full of idiomatic expressions related to food. Knowing them will make you sound much more natural:

Example:

🇬🇧 Don’t worry about the exam, it’ll be a piece of cake!
🇪🇸 No te preocupes por el examen, ¡será pan comido!

Phrasal verbs and idioms with food

Phrasal verbs related to food are very common in English and it’s important to master them if you want to sound natural. Many of them are used in both literal contexts (related to cooking or eating) and figurative contexts.

Literal phrasal verbs (related to cooking and eating):

Figurative phrasal verbs (that use food vocabulary but with another meaning):

Idioms with food:

Example:

🇬🇧 I’ve got so much on my plate this week that I won’t be able to eat out with you.
🇪🇸 Tengo tantas cosas que hacer esta semana que no podré salir a comer contigo.

Common mistakes by Spanish speakers with food vocabulary

As an English teacher, I’ve seen the same errors repeated time and again among Spanish-speaking students. Here are the most common ones so you can avoid them:

1. Confusing «chicken» and «kitchen»

This is probably the most frequent mistake and also the most embarrassing. The pronunciation is completely different:

• Chicken /ˈtʃɪkɪn/ – pollo
• Kitchen /ˈkɪtʃɪn/ – cocina

❌ «I cooked the kitchen for dinner.»
✅ «I cooked chicken for dinner.»

2. Using «lunch» as a regular verb

In English, we don’t say «to lunch» as a common verb. We use «to have lunch»:

❌ «What time do you lunch?»
✅ «What time do you have lunch?»

3. Confusing «beef» with «meat»

Many students think that «beef» means any type of meat:

• Meat – meat (in general)
• Beef – cow/veal meat specifically

❌ «I don’t eat beef» (when you want to say you are a vegetarian)
✅ «I don’t eat meat» / «I’m a vegetarian»

4. Forgetting that some foods are uncountable

❌ «I need two breads.»
✅ «I need two loaves of bread.» / «I need some bread.»

❌ «Can I have three waters?»
✅ «Can I have three glasses/bottles of water?»

5. Translating «tener hambre» literally

In English we don’t say «I have hunger»:

❌ «I have hunger.»
✅ «I’m hungry.»

The same happens with thirst:

❌ «I have thirst.»
✅ «I’m thirsty.»

6. Using «salty» when you mean «savoury»

«Salty» means that it has too much salt (negative), whereas «savoury» means «salty» in opposition to «sweet»:

❌ «I prefer salty food to sweet food.»
✅ «I prefer savoury food to sweet food.»

7. Confusing «plate» and «dish»

• Plate – plate (the object where you put the food)
• Dish – dish (the type of food you prepare)

❌ «What’s your favourite plate?»
✅ «What’s your favourite dish?»

8. Translating «probar» literally

To taste or try food we use «to try» or «to taste», not «to prove»:

❌ «Can I prove this cake?»
✅ «Can I try this cake?» / «Can I taste this cake?»

9. Forgetting UK/US differences

Some foods have completely different names:

10. Pronouncing «soup» like «soap»

An all too common mistake among Spanish speakers is pronouncing soup (soup = /suːp/) like soap (soap = /soʊp/). Remember that soup rhymes with food, while soap rhymes with hope. An example I give my students to remember the rhyme is the following:

There’s poop 💩 in my soup 🍲!

That way you never forget… 😅

11. Confusing «ham» and «jam»

This mistake is very common because both words sound similar to Spanish speakers, but they mean completely different things:

🇬🇧 English	Pronunciation	🇪🇸 Spanish
Ham	/hæm/	Jamón (carne)
Jam	/dʒæm/	Mermelada (dulce)

The difference is in the initial sound: «ham» starts with an aspirated «h», while «jam» starts with the sound of «y» in Spanish (as in «ya»).

12. Confusing «dessert» and «desert»

This is a classic spelling mistake that can completely change the meaning of your sentence:

🇬🇧 English	Pronunciation	🇪🇸 Spanish
Dessert	/dɪˈzɜːt/	Postre (with double «s»)
Desert	/ˈdezət/	Desierto (with a single «s»)

Trick to remember it:

🇬🇧 Dessert is sssssssweeeeeeet 🤤, so it has double S.

Tips for learning and memorising food vocabulary in English

After so much information, you might be wondering: how am I going to remember all this? Don’t worry, you don’t have to memorise it all at once. Here are my best tips as a teacher to make food vocabulary stick naturally:

1. Learn by thematic categories

The brain retains information better when it is organised. Instead of learning random words, group them by topics: fruits, vegetables, meats, cooking methods, etc. This is exactly what we have done in this article.

2. Use flashcards

Apps like Anki, Quizlet or Memrise are excellent for practising food vocabulary. You can create your own cards with images of food to associate the word with the picture.

3. Label the food in your kitchen

Put post-its in English in your fridge and pantry. Every time you pick up the «milk», the «eggs» or the «cheese», you will be reinforcing the vocabulary.

4. Cook following recipes in English

YouTube is full of cooking channels in English. Watching and following recipes not only teaches you vocabulary but also cooking verbs (chop, stir, mix, bake…) and measurements (tablespoon, teaspoon, cup…).

5. Describe your food in English

Every time you eat, try to mentally describe (or out loud if you are alone) what you are eating: «This soup is creamy and a bit spicy. It has carrots, potatoes and chicken in it.» If you are writing a B1 article about food, this practice will be especially useful.

6. Read menus in English

Look for menus from British or American restaurants online. Try to identify the ingredients and preparation methods. Many restaurants have their menus on their websites.

7. Watch cooking programmes in English

Programmes like «MasterChef», «The Great British Bake Off» or «Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares» are entertaining and a goldmine of gastronomic vocabulary.

8. Make your shopping list in English

Before going to the supermarket, write your shopping list completely in English. It’s a practical and functional way to practice.

9. Use mnemonic associations

Create fun mental connections. For example, to remember that «cucumber» is pepino, you can think of it as being «cool as a cucumber» (staying calm).

10. Practice with a partner

Play at describing dishes and having your partner guess what they are. Or simulate being in a restaurant: one plays the waiter and the other the customer.

11. Don’t try to learn everything at once

Set realistic goals. For example: «This week I’m going to learn 10 fruits, next week 10 vegetables». It’s better to learn a little but well, than a lot and forget it immediately.

12. Review regularly

The key to long-term memorisation is spaced repetition. Review the vocabulary after 1 day, then after 3 days, then after a week, and so on.

Differences between British and American English in food vocabulary

We have already mentioned some differences throughout the article, but it’s important to compile them all in one place because they can cause confusion, especially if you are used to one type of English and suddenly come across the other.

Important note: Although these are the most common forms in each variety of English, most native speakers understand both versions thanks to globalisation and cultural exchange.

Exercises to practice food vocabulary in English

Hi everyone! After having reviewed all this vocabulary about food, cooking and restaurants, it’s time to test what you’ve learned. I’ve prepared three practical exercises for you to consolidate these terms and expressions. Let’s go!

And if you’d rather work with a text version that you can copy, paste and transform as you wish, here it is 👇

Exercise 1: Food items and meals

Fill in the gaps with the correct noun from the box. There is only one possible answer for each sentence.

1. On Sundays, we usually wake up late and have a big __________ around 11:30 a.m.
2. In the UK, having a biscuit and a cup of tea at mid-morning is known as __________.
3. I’m going to make a traditional stew, so I need to buy a kilo of __________.
4. We had grilled __________ with garlic and lemon as an appetiser.
5. To make the chocolate mousse richer, the recipe says we should add some __________.
6. Hummus is a delicious dip made primarily from __________ and tahini.
7. This vegetable is called an __________ in British English, but Americans call it an «eggplant».
8. I love the smell of __________ on my morning porridge or in an apple pie.
9. For my main course, I’d like a medium-rare sirloin __________, please.
10. Smoked __________ with cream cheese is a classic combination for a bagel.

Exercise 2: Cooking and eating actions

Fill in the gaps with the words from the box. Note: You may need to transform the verbs (change the tense or form) to fit the sentence correctly.

1. We couldn’t have cereal this morning because we had __________ of milk.
2. If you don’t feel like cooking tonight, we can __________ at that new Italian restaurant.
3. I can __________ a quick salad in five minutes if you’re hungry now.
4. My grandmother always __________ a whole turkey for Christmas dinner.
5. Please __________ the onions into very small pieces for the sauce.
6. You need to __________ the water before you add the pasta to the pot.
7. Don’t worry about the leftovers; you can just __________ them in the microwave tomorrow.
8. He was so hungry that he __________ the entire cake by himself in record time!
9. We really __________ on pizza and ice cream while watching the football match last night.
10. Come on, I know you know the secret! __________ and tell me what she said!

Exercise 3: Describing food and idioms

Fill in the gaps with the adjectives or idiomatic expressions from the box. There is only one possible answer for each sentence.

1. This curry is way too __________ for me; my mouth is on fire!
2. The meat was so __________ that it practically melted in my mouth.
3. I found the soup a little __________; it definitely needed more salt and herbs.
4. I love adding __________ vegetables like carrots and peppers to my salads.
5. Be careful with that fried chicken; it’s a bit __________ and might ruin your shirt.
6. Some people don’t like sushi because they aren’t used to eating __________ fish.
7. Don’t worry about the cooking exam; for someone with your talent, it’ll be a __________!
8. I’m afraid spicy food is just not my __________; I much prefer mild flavours.
9. The new sugar tax has become a __________ in Parliament lately.
10. Even though the kitchen was chaotic, the head chef remained __________.

Answers

Here are the solutions so you can check your answers. Don’t cheat! 😉

I hope these exercises have helped you review. Keep practising and you’ll see how soon you’ll master the menu at any restaurant!

And until the next article, don’t forget to keep smiling!

And for dessert…

And with this, we reach the end of this very complete journey through food vocabulary in English. As you have seen, mastering this topic goes far beyond memorising lists of words: it’s about understanding cultural differences, knowing idiomatic expressions, knowing how to describe flavours and textures, and being able to handle yourself with ease in both a restaurant and a supermarket. Remember that the secret lies in constant practice: label your foods, cook following recipes in English, describe what you eat and, above all, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Every time you use this vocabulary in real situations, you’ll be one step closer to fluency.

So the next time someone asks you «What’s your favourite dish?», you’ll know how to answer with confidence and perhaps even add an idiom to impress. 😉

Bon appétit! (Oops, wrong language, LOL!)

And until the next article, don’t forget to keep smiling!