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How to Say "meal" in Spanish

English → Spanish

comida

/koh-MEE-dah//koˈmiða/

nounA1general
Use 'comida' to refer to a specific eating occasion like breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or more generally to food itself.
A simple illustration of a wicker basket overflowing with various groceries, including fruit, vegetables, and a loaf of bread, symbolizing food in general.

Examples

La cena es mi comida favorita del día.

Dinner is my favorite meal of the day.

Necesito comprar comida para el fin de semana.

I need to buy food for the weekend.

Mi comida favorita es la pasta.

My favorite food is pasta.

Esta es una comida típica de mi país.

This is a typical dish from my country.

Always Feminine

No matter what kind of food you're talking about, 'comida' is a feminine word. Always use 'la' or 'una' with it, like 'la comida' (the food) or 'una comida deliciosa' (a delicious meal).

General Food vs. Specific Item

Mistake: “Pointing to an apple and asking, '¿Quieres una comida?'”

Correction: It's better to say, '¿Quieres una manzana?'. 'Comida' refers to food in general or a whole meal, not a single, specific item like one piece of fruit.

plato

/PLAH-toh//ˈplato/

nounA2general
Use 'plato' when referring to a specific prepared dish that is served as part of a meal.
A steaming bowl filled with a colorful, prepared meal, specifically pasta with red sauce.

Examples

El gazpacho es un plato típico de Andalucía.

Gazpacho is a typical dish from Andalusia.

¿Cuál es el plato del día en este restaurante?

What is the dish of the day in this restaurant?

Mi plato favorito es la lasaña.

My favorite dish is lasagna.

El primer plato fue una sopa de verduras.

The first course was a vegetable soup.

Plato vs. Comida

'Comida' is the general word for 'food' or 'meal.' 'Plato' refers to a specific, prepared item of food, like a recipe or a course in a restaurant.

harina

/ah-REE-nah//aˈɾina/

nounA1general
Use 'harina' exclusively to mean flour, which is a ground grain used to make bread, pasta, and other baked goods.
A pile of white flour on a wooden surface with a small wooden scoop.

Examples

Necesito comprar harina para hacer pastel.

I need to buy flour to make a cake.

Necesito comprar un kilo de harina para hacer pan.

I need to buy a kilo of flour to make bread.

Mezcla la harina con los huevos y la leche.

Mix the flour with the eggs and the milk.

Hay diferentes tipos de harina, como la de trigo o la de maíz.

There are different types of flour, such as wheat or corn flour.

Feminine Noun

This word is feminine, so you should always use feminine words with it, like 'la harina' or 'mucha harina'.

Silent H

The 'h' at the beginning is completely silent. It sounds exactly like it starts with the letter 'a'.

The Silent H

Mistake: “Pronouncing it as 'jarina'.”

Correction: The 'h' is silent in Spanish. Pronounce it as /ah-ree-nah/.

Confusing 'Comida' with 'Harina' and 'Plato'

Learners often confuse 'comida' (meal/food) with 'harina' (flour) or 'plato' (dish). Remember that 'harina' is only for ground grain, and 'plato' refers to a specific prepared dish, not the occasion of eating itself.

Related Translations

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