How to Say "french fries" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “french fries” is “papas” — use 'papas' when you want to refer to french fries, especially in contexts where 'potato' is implied or the general word for fries is desired. This term is very common across many Spanish-speaking regions.
Use 'papas' when you want to refer to french fries, especially in contexts where 'potato' is implied or the general word for fries is desired. This term is very common across many Spanish-speaking regions.
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Use 'fritas' when you want to emphasize that the potatoes are fried, often as a direct descriptor for french fries, and is commonly used in Spain.
Learn more →PAH-pahsˈpa.pas
Examples
¿Me pones unas papas con el sándwich, por favor?
Could you give me some fries with the sandwich, please?
No comas tantas papas de bolsa, no son saludables.
Don't eat so many potato chips (crisps), they aren't healthy.
Shortening Phrases
Often, Spanish speakers shorten common food phrases. 'Papas' here is a quick way to say 'papas fritas' (fried potatoes).
FREE-tasˈfɾi.tas
Examples
Quiero una hamburguesa con doble queso y unas buenas fritas.
I want a double cheeseburger and some good fries.
¿Pedimos unas fritas para picar mientras esperamos?
Shall we order some chips to snack on while we wait?
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.
Using the Singular
Mistake: “Quiero una frita.”
Correction: Quiero unas fritas. The singular form 'frita' is not used to mean a serving of fries.
Choosing Between 'Papas' and 'Fritas'
The most common mistake is not realizing that 'papas' is the more widely understood and general term for french fries across most of the Spanish-speaking world. While 'fritas' is correct, especially in Spain, using 'papas' is generally safer and more universally recognized.
Related Translations
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