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bocadillo

bo-ka-dee-yo/bokaˈdiʝo/

sandwich

Also: snack, sub
NounmA1
SpainMexico
A long crusty baguette sandwich filled with slices of ham and cheese.

📝 In Action

Quiero un bocadillo de jamón y queso para almorzar.

A1

I want a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch.

Siempre llevo un bocadillo en la mochila cuando voy a la montaña.

A2

I always carry a sandwich in my backpack when I go to the mountains.

El bocadillo de calamares es la comida más famosa de las plazas de Madrid.

B1

The squid sandwich is the most famous food in Madrid's squares.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • torta (sandwich (specifically in Mexico))
  • merienda (afternoon snack)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • bocadillo de tortilla – Spanish omelet sandwich
  • comer un bocadillo – to eat a sandwich
  • hacer un bocadillo – to make a sandwich

speech bubble

Also: thought bubble
NounmB2
Latin America
An empty white speech bubble with a pointed tail on a solid blue background.

📝 In Action

El dibujante olvidó poner el texto dentro del bocadillo.

B2

The illustrator forgot to put the text inside the speech bubble.

En los cómics, los bocadillos con bordes de nubes representan pensamientos.

C1

In comics, bubbles with cloud-like edges represent thoughts.

Si el bocadillo es muy pequeño, la letra no se puede leer.

B2

If the speech bubble is too small, the font cannot be read.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • dibujar un bocadillo – to draw a speech bubble
  • bocadillo de diálogo – dialogue bubble

guava jelly snack

Also: sweet treat
NounmB1
ColombiaVenezuela
Small rectangular blocks of dark red guava jelly stacked neatly.

📝 In Action

Compré unos bocadillos veleños en mi viaje a Colombia.

B1

I bought some 'veleño' guava sweets on my trip to Colombia.

El bocadillo con queso es un postre muy sencillo y rico.

A2

Guava jelly with cheese is a very simple and tasty dessert.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • dulce de guayaba (guava sweet)
  • ate (fruit paste (Mexico))

Common Collocations

  • bocadillo veleño – a famous type of guava snack from Vélez, Colombia

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "bocadillo" in Spanish:

speech bubble→sweet treat→thought bubble→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: bocadillo

Question 1 of 3

If you are in Madrid and want a ham sandwich on a baguette, what should you ask for?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
boca(mouth) — Noun
bocado(a bite / mouthful) — Noun
boquilla(nozzle / mouthpiece) — Noun
bocanada(mouthful (of air/smoke)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from the Spanish word 'bocado' (a mouthful/bite), which comes from the Latin 'bucca' (puffed cheek/mouth). The '-illo' ending is a common way in Spanish to make a word feel smaller or more manageable.

First recorded: 16th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: boccata

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is a bocadillo a snack or a meal?

It can be both! In Spain, a large bocadillo is a common lunch, while a smaller one might be a 'merienda' (afternoon snack).

What is the difference between a bocadillo and a sándwich?

Bocadillos use rustic bread like baguettes. Sándwiches use soft, sliced bread. They are never interchangeable in Spain!

Do people use this word in Mexico?

Yes, but usually to mean 'appetizers' or 'small bites' at a party. For a sandwich, they almost always say 'torta'.