How to order like a local instead of a clueless tourist
We’ve all been there. You’re in a Spanish restaurant, confidently ordering what you think is “cho-RIT-zo” only to see the waiter’s barely concealed wince. Or perhaps you’ve proudly asked for “pie-ELLA” at a tapas bar, blissfully unaware you’ve just committed a linguistic crime against one of Spain’s most beloved dishes.
The truth is most Brits massacre Spanish food names with the enthusiasm of a bull in a china shop. But help is at hand from James Smith, a Spanish language expert at Learn Spanish with James, who has spent over 10 years teaching Spanish and living across Spain, Argentina, and Costa Rica.
“I’ve heard every possible mispronunciation under the sun,” says James. “The good news is that once you know the tricks, Spanish pronunciation becomes much more straightforward than English. Unlike English, Spanish is largely phonetic, so what you see is what you say.”
Below, James reveals the seven Spanish dishes Brits get wrong most often, along with the proper pronunciations that will have you ordering like a local.
The 7 Spanish Dishes Brits Always Get Wrong
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Paella
How Brits say it: “pie-ELLA” or “pay-ELLA”
Correct pronunciation: “pah-EH-yah”
Memory trick: Think “pa” like “papa”, then “eh” like “meh”, then “yah” like “yeah”
This iconic rice dish from Valencia gets butchered more than any other Spanish food name. The double ‘L’ in Spanish makes a ‘y’ sound, not an ‘L’ sound – a rule that trips up English speakers every time.
“Paella is such a source of pride for Valencians,” explains James. “Getting the name right shows respect for the dish and the culture behind it.”
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Chorizo
How Brits say it: “cho-RIT-zo”
Correct pronunciation: “cho-REE-tho” (in Spain) or “cho-REE-so” (in Latin America)
Memory trick: Think of “three” for the th sound — like “three-tho”.
The ‘Z’ in European Spanish has a ‘th’ sound, like in “think”. However, in Latin American Spanish, it’s pronounced as an ‘S’ sound.
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Jamón Ibérico
How Brits say it: “JAM-on ib-AIR-ic-oh”
Correct pronunciation: “ha-MOHN ee-BEH-ree-ko”
Memory trick: The ‘J’ sounds like ‘H’ in “hello”, and stress the second syllable in jamón
This premium cured ham is often mangled by English speakers who apply English pronunciation rules. The ‘J’ in Spanish always sounds like an English ‘H’.
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Gazpacho
How Brits say it: “gaz-PATCH-oh”
Correct pronunciation: “gath-PA-cho”
Memory trick: Think “gas” with a soft ‘th’ sound, then “PA-cho”
The ‘Z’ gets the ‘th’ treatment again, and many Brits stress the whole second syllable rather than just the ‘PA’.
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Albóndigas
How Brits say it: “al-BON-dig-ass”
Correct pronunciation: “al-bohn-DEE-gas” (slight emphasis on the DEE)
Memory trick: Say “Al’s bones, the gas” but smoother
These Spanish meatballs have a name that looks intimidating but follows standard Spanish pronunciation rules once you know them.
“The key with albóndigas is remembering that Spanish vowels are much more consistent than English ones,” notes James. “Each vowel essentially has one sound.”
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Patatas Bravas
How Brits say it: “pa-TAH-tas BRAH-vas”
Correct pronunciation: “pa-TA-tas BRA-bas”
Memory trick: Keep it short and sharp – no dragged-out vowels
These spicy potatoes are a tapas staple, but the double ‘R’ often gets rolled too enthusiastically by eager Brits trying to sound authentic.
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Churros
How Brits say it: “CHUR-ros” (like “church” + “rose”)
Correct pronunciation: “CHOO-rros”
Memory trick: Think “choo-choo train” with a rolled ‘R’
The ‘CH’ in Spanish sounds more like the ‘CH’ in ‘choose’ rather than ‘church’, and that double ‘R’ needs a proper roll.
James Smith, Spanish Language Expert at Learn Spanish with James, commented:
“Getting Spanish pronunciation right can genuinely transform your experience when you’re travelling or dining. I’ve seen local people’s faces light up when you make the effort to pronounce their food correctly. It shows respect and often leads to better service, recommendations for hidden gems, and genuine conversations with locals.
“The beauty of Spanish is that once you learn the basic rules, you can pronounce almost any word correctly just by reading it. Unlike English, there are no silent letters or random pronunciation changes. Most Brits are actually closer to correct Spanish pronunciation than they think. They just need to unlearn some English habits and trust the phonetic spelling.”