Interested in learning more about Venezuelan cuisine? If so, you’ll want to get your bearings on Venezuela and on some Venezuelan food terms as well.
Venezuela is a Latin American country located at the northern region of South America. It is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Brazil to the south, Colombia to the west and Guyana to the east.
Venezuelan cuisine
Venezuelan cuisine is known for its vibrant colors and diverse flavors, strongly influenced by Native American, Italian, Spanish and West African cultures.
Local ingredients such as plantains, corn, coconuts and seafood are often used in Venezuelan dishes.
Venezuelan food terms (Spanish)
Expand your international dining vocabulary with these basic food-related words translated from English to Spanish.
meat – carne
- pork – cerdo
- beef – carne de vaca (literal translation “meat of cow”)
poultry – aves de corral
- turkey – pavo
- duck – pato
- chicken – pollo
seafood – mariscos
- fish – pescado
- shrimp – camarónes
- oyster – ostra
- shellfish – mariscos
meatless/no meat – sin carne
- vegetables – vegetales
- fruits – frutas
- eggs – huevos
- tofu – tofu
- nuts – nueces
- vegetarian – vegetariano (male) / vegetariana (female)
- vegan – vegano (male) / vegana (female)
drinks – bebidas
- water – agua
- alcohol – alcohol
- beer – cerveza
- wine – vino
other eating/dining-related terms
- yes – sí
- no – no
- good – bueno
- yummy – sabroso
- eat – comer (literally “to eat”)
- cook – cocinar
- I’m hungry – tengo hambre
- I’m full – estoy lleno
- more – más
- less – menos
- only – solo
- please – por favor
- thank you – gracias
- baked – horneado
- fried – frito
- grilled – a la parilla
- roasted – asado
- steamed – cocer al vapor
- hot – caliente
- warm – caliente
- cold – frío
- bitter – amargo
- salty – salado
- spicy – picante
- sweet – dulce
- allergic – alérgico
- bathroom – el baño
Watch this video to hear how letters and words sound in Venezuelan Spanish.
Venezuelan food to try
- arepas – sandwiches made of maize/flour, meat (beef, chicken or fish), cheese, eggs, veggies and sauces
- buñuelos – sweet fried cheese-filled yucca balls
- empanadas – meat and/or vegetable-filled pastries
- hallacas – meat tamales (typically made for Chrismas)
- pabellón criollo – a dish of pulled beef, black beans, rice and fried plantains (Venezuelan national dish)
- pan de jamon – ham bread
- pisca andina – chicken and milk soup
- tequeños y guasacaca – crispy pastry-wrapped cheese sticks with Venezuelan guacamole
Interested in learning about other cuisines around the world? Discover food terms from other countries here.
