A whole, dark red, cured ham leg resting on a rustic wooden cutting board.

jamón

hah-MOHN

nounmA1

ham?cured pork product

Also:cured meat?as a general category, especially in Spain

📝 In Action

¿Puedes comprar un poco de jamón para el desayuno?

Can you buy some ham for breakfast?

Prefiero el jamón ibérico, aunque es más caro.

I prefer Iberian ham, even though it is more expensive.

Esta tabla de quesos y jamón está deliciosa.

This cheese and ham board is delicious.

Word Connections

Synonyms

pernil (pork leg (used regionally))

Common Collocations

bocadillo de jamón – ham sandwich/roll
loncha de jamón – slice of ham
jamón y queso – ham and cheese

💡 Grammar Points

Always Masculine

Remember that 'jamón' is a masculine word, so you must use masculine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'el jamón', 'un jamón delicioso').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'jamón' and 'tocino'

Mistake: "Using 'jamón' when referring to American-style bacon."

Correction: In Spanish, the word for bacon is usually 'tocino' or 'panceta'. 'Jamón' refers specifically to the cured leg of pork (ham).

⭐ Usage Tips

Talking About Quality

If you are in Spain, specifying the type of ham is very common. The two main types are 'jamón serrano' (mountain ham) and the higher-quality 'jamón ibérico' (Iberian ham).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: jamón

Question 1 of 1

Which word would you use to order a sandwich containing cured pork leg?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cerdo(pig/pork) - noun

tocino(bacon) - noun

paleta(pork shoulder) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'jamón serrano' y 'jamón ibérico'?

Both are dry-cured hams from Spain. 'Jamón serrano' (mountain ham) comes from white pigs. 'Jamón ibérico' (Iberian ham) comes from the native Iberian black pig, often fed on acorns, making it generally considered the highest quality and most expensive type.