Fruits and Vegetables in Spanish: A1 Vocabulary Guide
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Key Takeaways
- Learn the Spanish names for common fruits and vegetables
- Master simple phrases for shopping and talking about food
- Understand gender patterns in food vocabulary
- Practice describing fruits and vegetables with colors and adjectives
Fresh Food Vocabulary
Learning fruits and vegetables in Spanish is not only practical for grocery shopping and dining, but it’s also a delicious way to expand your vocabulary! These words will help you in markets, restaurants, and everyday conversations about food.
Common Fruits (Frutas Comunes)
Let’s start with sweet, colorful fruits you probably already know and love.
| English | Spanish | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | la manzana | Como una manzana roja cada día. (I eat a red apple every day.) |
| Banana | el plátano / la banana | El plátano es amarillo. (The banana is yellow.) |
| Orange | la naranja | La naranja es naranja. (The orange is orange.) |
| Strawberry | la fresa | Las fresas son rojas y dulces. (Strawberries are red and sweet.) |
| Grape | la uva | Las uvas son moradas o verdes. (Grapes are purple or green.) |
| Lemon | el limón | El limón es amarillo y ácido. (The lemon is yellow and sour.) |
| Watermelon | la sandía | La sandía es grande y verde por fuera. (Watermelon is big and green outside.) |
| Pineapple | la piña | La piña es dulce y jugosa. (Pineapple is sweet and juicy.) |
Practice Fruit Names in Spanish
Common Vegetables (Verduras Comunes)
Now let’s explore the vegetable vocabulary you’ll need for cooking and healthy eating.
| English | Spanish | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | el tomate | El tomate es rojo. (The tomato is red.) |
| Potato | la papa / la patata | Las papas son marrones. (Potatoes are brown.) |
| Carrot | la zanahoria | La zanahoria es naranja. (The carrot is orange.) |
| Lettuce | la lechuga | La lechuga es verde. (Lettuce is green.) |
| Onion | la cebolla | La cebolla es blanca o morada. (The onion is white or purple.) |
| Garlic | el ajo | El ajo es pequeño y blanco. (Garlic is small and white.) |
| Pepper | el pimiento | El pimiento puede ser rojo, verde o amarillo. (The pepper can be red, green, or yellow.) |
| Broccoli | el brócoli | El brócoli es verde. (Broccoli is green.) |
Practice vegetable names in Spanish
Quick Grammar Tip: Food Gender
Most food words follow these patterns:
- Fruits ending in -a are usually feminine: la manzana, la naranja, la fresa
- Fruits ending in -o are usually masculine: el mango, el durazno
- Vegetables can be both, but many are feminine: la zanahoria, la lechuga, la cebolla
🍎 Want to see them all? We have a complete visual guide with pictures of all fruits and vegetables!
👉 Explore our full Fruit Names in Spanish guide with images and pronunciation.
Useful Phrases for Shopping and Eating
Now let’s use this vocabulary in practical situations.
At the Market:
- “Quiero [un kilo de] manzanas, por favor.” (I want [a kilo of] apples, please.)
- “¿Cuánto cuestan las naranjas?” (How much do the oranges cost?)
- “Necesito zanahorias y papas.” (I need carrots and potatoes.)
Talking About Food Preferences:
- “Me gustan las fresas.” (I like strawberries.)
- “No me gusta el brócoli.” (I don’t like broccoli.)
- “Las uvas son mis frutas favoritas.” (Grapes are my favorite fruits.)
Describing Taste:
- dulce (sweet)
- ácido/agrio (sour)
- salado (salty)
- amargo (bitter)
- jugoso (juicy)
Putting It All Together: Market Dialogue
Customer: “Buenos días. Quiero manzanas y naranjas, por favor.”
Vendor: “Muy bien. ¿Cuántas manzanas quiere?”
Customer: “Seis manzanas rojas y un kilo de naranjas, por favor.”
Vendor: “¿Algo más?”
Customer: “Sí, necesito papas, zanahorias y lechuga también.”
Vendor: “Aquí tiene. Son quince euros en total.”
Translation:
Customer: “Good morning. I want apples and oranges, please.”
Vendor: “Very good. How many apples do you want?”
Customer: “Six red apples and a kilo of oranges, please.”
Vendor: “Anything else?”
Customer: “Yes, I need potatoes, carrots, and lettuce too.”
Vendor: “Here you go. It’s fifteen euros total.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Gender Confusion: Remember el tomate (masculine) but la manzana (feminine)
- Plural Forms: Most fruits and vegetables become plural by adding -s: la manzana → las manzanas
- “Like” vs “Want”: Me gustan (I like) vs Quiero (I want)
- Regional Differences: El plátano (Spain) vs la banana (Latin America)
Quick Reference Chart
| Category | Spanish Words |
|---|---|
| Common Fruits | manzana, plátano, naranja, fresa, uva |
| Common Vegetables | tomate, papa, zanahoria, lechuga, cebolla |
| Useful Verbs | quiero (I want), necesito (I need), me gustan (I like) |
| Descriptive Words | dulce, ácido, jugoso, rojo, verde, fresco |
Practice Exercise: Create Your Shopping List!
Try writing your ideal grocery list in Spanish. Include:
- 3 fruits you like
- 3 vegetables you eat regularly
- Use quantities: un kilo de… (a kilo of…), seis… (six…)
Example: “Mi lista: un kilo de manzanas, seis plátanos, tomates, zanahorias y lechuga.”
Ready to Practice?
Think you can remember your manzanas from your naranjas? Test your fruit and vegetable vocabulary!
Take our Fruits & Vegetables Quiz ► to make this vocabulary stick.
What’s Next in Your A1 Spanish Journey?
◄ Colors & Basic Adjectives | Food & Meals (Basic Food Vocabulary) ►
