la cazuela
La cazuela is a casserole dish or cooking pot, often used for oven dishes or slow-cooked meals. In some contexts, it can also refer to a stew served in a pot.
Common Phrases
- la cazuela grande — the large casserole dish
- poner algo en la cazuela — to put something in the casserole dish
Example
La cazuela grande cabe en el armario alto.
The large casserole dish fits in the tall cabinet.
Common Mistake
Mixing up gender: say la cazuela, not el cazuela. Also, do not assume it always means food; often it is the container.
la pasta
La pasta means pasta as a food staple, usually treated as a general, uncountable idea. It can also mean paste or dough in other contexts.
Common Phrases
- cocer la pasta — to cook pasta (boil it)
- pasta seca — dried pasta
Example
Hoy preparo la pasta en pocos minutos.
Today I prepare the pasta in a few minutes.
Common Mistake
Using the wrong article: la pasta is correct; el pasta is incorrect. Another common slip is overusing las pastas when you just mean pasta in general.
los fideos
Los fideos are noodles, typically thin noodles, often used in soups or quick stovetop meals. It is commonly plural when you mean noodles as a standard ingredient.
Common Phrases
- fideos finos — thin noodles
- sopa de fideos — noodle soup
Example
Los fideos van bien en la sopa.
Noodles work well in soup.
Common Mistake
Forgetting the plural: los fideos is common; el fideos is incorrect. Also, do not use fideos when you mean pasta shapes like penne; that is usually la pasta.
los garbanzos
Los garbanzos are chickpeas, a classic pantry protein used in soups, salads, and stews. They can be cooked from dry or used already cooked from a can or jar.
Common Phrases
- garbanzos cocidos — cooked chickpeas
- una lata de garbanzos — a can of chickpeas
Example
Los garbanzos quedan tiernos al final.
The chickpeas end up tender at the end.
Common Mistake
Mixing up number or article: los garbanzos is correct; el garbanzos is incorrect. Another mistake is spelling it as garvanzos.
las lentejas
Las lentejas are lentils, a budget-friendly staple that cooks into a filling base for soups and bowls. They are often used in simple home cooking.
Common Phrases
- lentejas secas — dry lentils
- sopa de lentejas — lentil soup
Example
Las lentejas llenan mucho.
Lentils are very filling.
Common Mistake
Confusing words: lentejas are a food, while lentes are glasses. Also watch the plural: las lentejas, not la lentejas.
la ensalada
La ensalada is a salad, either as a side or a main dish. It refers to the prepared dish, not just the leafy ingredient.
Common Phrases
- ensalada fresca — fresh salad
- ensalada mixta — mixed salad
Example
La ensalada fresca va bien en la cena.
Fresh salad works well at dinner.
Common Mistake
Using ensalada to mean lettuce. For the ingredient, say lechuga. Also, keep the article: la ensalada, not el ensalada.
la sopa
La sopa is soup as a dish, usually with ingredients in it (noodles, legumes, vegetables). It is a go-to word for light, comforting weeknight meals.
Common Phrases
- sopa ligera — light soup
- sopa caliente — hot soup
Example
Pido una sopa ligera.
I order a light soup.
Common Mistake
Confusing la sopa with el caldo. In many contexts, la sopa is the full dish, while el caldo is the broth base. Also avoid el sopa; the correct form is la sopa.
el caldo
El caldo is broth or stock, the flavorful liquid base you use to build soups, stews, and sauces. It can also be served as a simple warm drink in some contexts.
Common Phrases
- caldo claro — clear broth
- caldo de verduras — vegetable broth
Example
El caldo claro mejora el sabor.
Clear broth improves the flavor.
Common Mistake
Wrong gender: el caldo is correct; la caldo is incorrect. Another mistake is using sopa when you only mean the liquid base; use caldo for that.