fritas
/FREE-tas/
french fries
When used as a noun, 'fritas' means 'french fries'.
📝 In Action
Quiero una hamburguesa con doble queso y unas buenas fritas.
A1I want a double cheeseburger and some good fries.
¿Pedimos unas fritas para picar mientras esperamos?
A2Shall we order some chips to snack on while we wait?
💡 Grammar Points
Always Plural
Even if you are talking about just one serving, the word 'fritas' is always used in the plural, just like 'fries' in English.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Singular
Mistake: "Quiero una frita."
Correction: Quiero unas fritas. The singular form 'frita' is not used to mean a serving of fries.
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Differences
In many Latin American countries, 'fritas' is widely understood. In Spain, 'patatas fritas' is more common, though 'fritas' is still used informally.
As an adjective, 'fritas' means 'fried' when describing feminine plural objects.
📝 In Action
Las verduras fritas son más sabrosas, pero menos saludables.
B1Fried vegetables are tastier, but less healthy.
Compramos unas galletas fritas en la feria del pueblo.
A2We bought some fried cookies at the town fair.
💡 Grammar Points
The Past Participle
'Fritas' is the feminine plural form of the past participle of the verb 'freír' (to fry). It acts like an adjective, so it must match the gender and number of the noun it describes.
Matching Gender and Number
Since the word ends in '-as', it must describe feminine, plural things (e.g., 'papas' or 'alitas'). For masculine plural things, use 'fritos' (e.g., 'huevos fritos').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mismatching Gender
Mistake: "Comimos unos plátanos fritas."
Correction: Comimos unos plátanos fritos. ('Plátanos' is masculine, so the adjective must be 'fritos'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
The Root Verb 'Freír'
The verb 'freír' (to fry) is irregular because it has two acceptable past participle forms: 'frito' (used more often as an adjective) and 'freído' (used more often in compound verb tenses).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: fritas
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'fritas' as the adjective 'fried'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'fritas' the same as 'papas fritas'?
Yes, 'fritas' is a very common, shorter way of saying 'papas fritas' (fried potatoes). It’s similar to how English speakers might just say 'fries' instead of 'french fries'.
Why is the ending '-as'?
The '-as' ending tells you two things: first, that it's talking about feminine things (like 'papas' or 'alitas'), and second, that there is more than one of them (plural).