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How to Say "appetizer" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “appetizer” is “tapa” — use 'tapa' when referring to a small, savory snack, typically served with drinks or as a light bite before a meal, common in Spain..

English → Spanish

tapa

TAH-pah/ˈtapa/

nounA1informal
Use 'tapa' when referring to a small, savory snack, typically served with drinks or as a light bite before a meal, common in Spain.
A small white ceramic plate holding slices of red Spanish chorizo sausage and green olives.

Examples

Vamos a tomar una cerveza y unas tapas.

Let's grab a beer and some tapas.

¿Qué tapas tienen hoy? ¿Hay patatas bravas?

What tapas do you have today? Are there spicy potatoes?

En Andalucía, a veces te dan la tapa gratis con la bebida.

In Andalusia, sometimes they give you the tapa for free with the drink.

Using 'Tapa' for a Full Meal

Mistake: “Pedimos tres tapas para cenar (We ordered three tapas for dinner).”

Correction: Tapas are snacks, not usually a full meal. You should say 'Pedimos tres raciones' or 'Pedimos tres platos' if you mean a full dinner.

entrada

en-TRAH-dah/enˈtɾaða/

nounB1
Use 'entrada' when referring to a dish served as the first course of a more formal meal, before the main dish.
A small white plate centered on a wooden table, holding three colorful pieces of bruschetta topped with tomatoes and basil.

Examples

Para la entrada, pediremos unas tapas de queso.

For the appetizer, we will order some cheese tapas.

El menú incluye una entrada y un plato fuerte.

The menu includes a starter and a main course.

Tapa vs. Entrada

Learners often confuse 'tapa' and 'entrada' by using 'tapa' for any dish before the main course. Remember, 'tapa' is a small snack, while 'entrada' is a formal first course of a meal.

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