Inklingo

How to Say "sandwich" in Spanish

English → Spanish

sandwich

/SAHN-dweetch//ˈsandwitʃ/

nounA1general
Use this term for a general sandwich made with sliced bread, common in many Spanish-speaking countries.
A fresh sandwich made with two slices of bread, lettuce, tomato, and cheese.

Examples

Quiero un sandwich de jamón y queso para el almuerzo.

I want a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch.

Ella prefiere el sandwich con pan integral.

She prefers the sandwich with whole wheat bread.

No tengo mucha hambre, solo comeré un sandwich pequeño.

I'm not very hungry, I'll just eat a small sandwich.

Spelling and Accents

In formal writing, Spanish adds an accent to make it 'sándwich'. This helps you know to emphasize the first part of the word (SAN-dweetch).

Making it Plural

When you have more than one, you add '-es' at the end to get 'sándwiches'. This is different from English, which just adds 's'.

The Plural 'S'

Mistake: “Dos sandwichs.”

Correction: Dos sándwiches.

torta

/TOR-tah//ˈtoɾta/

nounA2general
Use this word specifically for a Mexican-style sandwich, which is often served on a round roll and can be quite substantial.
A large, thick Mexican sandwich (torta) made on a round roll, cut in half and revealing layers of meat, cheese, and avocado.

Examples

Voy a pedir una torta de milanesa con aguacate y queso.

I'm going to order a breaded meat sandwich with avocado and cheese.

¿Quieres una torta o un taco para el almuerzo?

Do you want a torta (sandwich) or a taco for lunch?

Mexican vs. Spanish Meaning

Mistake: “Asking for a 'torta' (cake) in Mexico and being served a savory sandwich.”

Correction: If you are in Mexico, assume 'torta' means sandwich unless the context is clearly dessert.

General vs. Mexican Sandwich

The most common mistake is using 'torta' for any sandwich. Remember, 'torta' specifically refers to the Mexican style of sandwich, often on a roll. For a standard sliced-bread sandwich, 'sandwich' is usually the safer and more universally understood term.

Related Translations

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