A single, plump, cooked sausage link with a bright reddish-brown casing, displayed against a plain background.

salchicha

sahl-CHEE-chah

NounfA1

sausage?general term for processed meat link,hot dog?when referring to the specific type of sausage used in a bun

Also:wiener?informal,frankfurter?specific type of sausage

📝 In Action

Quiero dos salchichas en mi plato, por favor.

I want two sausages on my plate, please.

Compramos pan para hacer perros calientes con salchichas.

We bought bread to make hot dogs with sausages.

La salchicha de desayuno es muy popular en este hotel.

The breakfast sausage is very popular in this hotel.

Word Connections

Synonyms

embutido (cured meat/cold cut)
chorizo (spicy sausage (specific type))

Common Collocations

perro caliente (de salchicha) – hot dog
salchicha ahumada – smoked sausage

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Rule

Since 'salchicha' ends in '-a', it is a feminine noun, so you must use 'la' (the) or 'una' (a) before it.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing up sausage types

Mistake: "Using 'salchicha' when you mean 'chorizo'."

Correction: While 'salchicha' is generic sausage, 'chorizo' is usually a specific, often spicy, cured sausage. Ask if the sausage is 'dulce' (sweet/mild) or 'picante' (spicy).

⭐ Usage Tips

Asking for a Hot Dog

In many regions, you ask for a 'perro caliente' (literally: hot dog) or simply 'un hot dog' when ordering the sandwich. You use 'salchicha' for the actual meat link itself.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: salchicha

Question 1 of 1

If you want to buy a hot dog at a street vendor, which phrase is most likely to get you the full sandwich?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

salchichón(salami / large cured sausage) - noun

sal(salt) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'salchicha' and 'chorizo'?

'Salchicha' is the general term for a sausage (like a frankfurter or hot dog wiener). 'Chorizo' is a specific, popular Spanish sausage that is usually red, highly seasoned with paprika, and often cured (harder) rather than fresh.

Is 'salchicha' used only for meat sausages?

No. While traditionally meat-based, 'salchicha' is now commonly used to refer to vegetarian or vegan sausages as well (e.g., 'salchicha vegetariana').