Vegetarian and Vegan Vocabulary in Spanish

¿Eres vegetariano o vegano? Let’s talk about being vegetarian or vegan in Spanish.

Visiting a Spanish-speaking country when you have dietary restrictions can be a challenge, especially if you don’t know the language. If you are vegan or vegetarian and need help explaining that in Spanish, get ready for a crash-course in all-things vegetarian in Spanish. 

After reading this blog post, you’ll be able to express yourself and your food-related preferences as a vegan or vegetarian with ease. 

But first, you’ve got to know what you’re getting yourself into—so let’s take a glance at the vegetarian culture in Latin America.

Being Vegetarian in Latin America

Before we go throwing around names and labels along with some interesting statistics, let’s cover the basics in terminology:

• A vegetarian does not eat the meat of animals—including beef, chicken, pork, and fish, but they may eat eggs or dairy. 

• A vegan, on the other hand, doesn’t eat or use any type of animal products, excluding from their diet eggs, dairy, and honey, and avoiding other animal-derived items like leather or fur. 
• A raw vegan, as the name implies, eats uncooked vegan foods. 

With these labels aside, individuals who are vegetarians, vegans, or raw vegans will adhere to varying degrees of rigidity—with some being more strict and others more flexible in their diet.

Food Culture

A 2016 survey of over 30,000 respondents from Mexico found that 19% claimed to be vegetarians, whereas 9% self-identified as vegan. The regional average for vegetarians in Latin America was a total of 8% percent.

Undeniably, meat (as a main course or ingredient in common dishes) plays a major role in local cuisine, no matter which Spanish-speaking country is on your itinerary—whether Spain, Mexico, or a nation in Central or South America. Nevertheless, it is gradually becoming easier for vegetarians to traverse Latin America without having to compromise on their dietary restrictions. 

Vegetarianism and veganism are still rather foreign concepts in much of Latin America, especially in rural areas. Many people in developing countries consider meat a treat to be enjoyed and appreciated. Thus, intentionally choosing not to eat meat is a concept that leaves many locals perplexed. (My in-laws who live in a small city in Colombia, for instance.) 

Regardless, as a vegan or vegetarian in Spanish, you can usually find (or order) a meat-free meal just about anywhere you roam—especially if you’re equipped with the vocabulary to do so! 

How to Explain Why You’re a Vegan or Vegetarian in Spanish

One of the first questions you get from people, in any language, when they find out you’re vegetarian or vegan is “Why?” Inquiring minds want to know. In Spanish, the questions are phrased as follows:

¿Por qué eres vegetariano/a?

¿Por qué eres vegano/a?

You’ve chosen the vegetarian or vegan lifestyle for a number of personal reasons. Here are three of the most common, along with their Spanish translations.

1. Physical Health

Meat causes various physical health problems.
La carne causa varios problemas a nivel de salud física.

Various studies conclude that processed meat increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

Varios estudios concluyen que la carne procesada aumenta el riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares y diabetes.

In 2015, the WHO declared red meat, sausage, and processed meat as carcinogens.

En 2015, la OMS declaró carcinógenas a la carne roja, las salchichas y la carne procesada.

If meat is not organic, it can contain hormones and antibiotics that are given to animals on farms to prevent infection or stimulate fattening.

Si la carne no es orgánica, puede contener hormonas y antibióticos que se administran a los animales en las granjas para prevenir infecciones o estimular el engorde.

The stress that an animal undergoes when it is slaughtered remains impregnated in its meat.

El estrés que sufre un animal cuando es sacrificado queda impregnado en su carne.

2. Environmental Health

The consumption of meat not only affects the health of people but also that of the environment.

El consumo de carne no sólo afecta a la salud de las personas sino también la del medio ambiente.

In general, the production of 1 kg of animal protein requires approximately 100 times more water than 1 kg of vegetable protein.

En general, la producción de 1 kg de proteína animal requiere de aproximadamente 100 veces más agua que 1 kg de proteína vegetal.

The high production of livestock pollutes the soil and groundwater due to the high concentration of excrement and drug residues.

La alta producción de ganadería contamina los suelos y las aguas subterráneas debido a la elevada concentración de excrementos y residuos farmacológicos.

70% of the agricultural land on the planet is used for feeding and raising livestock animals.

El 70% del terreno agrícola del planeta se destina a la alimentación y crianza de ganado. 

3. Animal Rights

There are many books, videos, and images about the horrible treatment of animals in factory farms.

Hay muchos libros, vídeos e imágenes sobre el trato horrible que se les da a los animales en las granjas industriales.

An animal was born to be free and to do what it sees fit with its life.

Un animal ha nacido para ser libre y hacer con su vida lo que crea conveniente.

I do not consider myself to have the right to lock up an animal or use it for my benefit, much less to take its life.

No me considero con el derecho a encerrar a un animal ni usarlo para obtener un beneficio, y mucho menos a quitarle la vida. 

To give refuge and live together with animals; that resonates more with me.

Dar refugio y convivir con los animales; eso me resuena más.

Vegetarian or Vegan in Spanish: Vocabulary 

Check out these useful words that you can use as a vegetarian or vegan in Spanish! 

I’ve broken the list into the following categories: general words, useful phrases, fruits and veggies, breakfast foods, drinks, condiments and spices, nuts, herbs, and cooking terminology. 

¡Buen provecho!

General Words

Spanish	English
Vegetariano/a	Vegetarian
Vegano/a	Vegan
Crudivegano/a	Raw vegan
La comida	Food
El desayuno	Breakfast
El almuerzo	Lunch
La cena	Dinner
La bebida	Drink
La nutrición, la alimentación	Nutrition

Useful Phrases 

Soy vegetariano/a.
I am vegetarian. 

Somos vegetarianos.
We are vegetarians.

Soy vegano/a.
I am vegan. 

Somos veganos.
We are vegans. 

Soy crudivegano/a.
I am raw vegan. 

Somos crudiveganos.
We are raw vegans.  

Como ____.
I eat _____. 

For example: Como lacteos.
I eat dairy.

No como _____.
I do not eat _____.

For example: No como carne.
I don’t eat meat.

No como crema ni mantequilla.
I don’t eat cream or butter.

Pro Tip: No como carne means that you don’t eat beef or pork. In Spanish, pollo (chicken) is not considered carne. So, in this case, it may be simpler to tell the waiter that you’re vegetarian.

Fruits and Veggies 

Spanish	English
La naranja	Orange
La manzana	Apple
El limón	Lime, lemon
La piña	Pineapple
El banano	Banana
La cebolla	Onion
La papa	Potatoes
La lechuga	Lettuce
La zanahoria	Carrot
El camote	Sweet potato

For many more, check out our Ridiculously Long List of Vegetables and Fruits in Spanish!

Breakfast Foods

Spanish	English
La fruta	Fruit
El avena	Oatmeal
El pan integral	Whole wheat bread
El pan tostado	Toast
El yogur	Yogurt
El tofu	Tofu
Los frijoles	Beans

Drinks 

Spanish	English
El agua	Water
El agua con gas	Sparkling water
El jugo	Juice
El café	Coffee
El té	Tea
El licuado	Smoothie
La leche de soya	Soy milk
La leche de almendra	Almond milk
La leche de coco	Coconut milk
La leche de vaca	Cow milk

Condiments and Spices

Spanish	English
El azúcar	Sugar
La miel	Honey
El aceite	Oil
El vinagre	Vinegar
El sal	Salt
La pimienta	Pepper
La salsa picante	Hot sauce
La mayonesa	Mayonnaise
La mostaza	Mustard
La salsa de tomate	Ketchup

Nuts 

Spanish	English
Los frutos secos	Nuts
La maní	Peanut
El almendra	Almond
El pistacho	Pistachio
Los nueces de macadamia	Macadamia nuts
El marañon	Cashew
El avellana	Hazelnut
El piñon	Pine nut
La pepitoria	Pumpkin seed
Los nueces de Brasil	Brazil nuts

Nut butters are mantequilla de ____ (fill in the blank with your nut of choice). For instance, peanut butter is la mantequilla de maní.

Herbs

Spanish	English
Las hierbas	Herbs
El albahaca	Basil
El cilantro	Coriander
El romero	Rosemary
El perejil	Parsley
La menta	Mint
El jengibre	Ginger
El laurel	Bay leaf
El pericón	St. John’s Wort
El limoncillo	Lemongrass

Cooking Terminology 

Spanish	English
Al vapor	Steamed
Ligeramente cocido	Lightly cooked
A la parrilla	Grilled
Cocido (al horno)	Baked
Frito/a	Fried
Exprimido/a	Freshly squeezed
Fresco/a	Fresh
Crudo/a	Not cooked, raw
Fermentado/a	Fermented

Vegetarian and Vegan in Spanish: Useful Phrases for Restaurants

When it comes to food, having a local opinion is always helpful for finding the best options. Here’s how to ask a friend for recommendations to find a vegetarian or vegan restaurant.

¿Conoces algún restaurante vegetariano?
Do you know of any vegetarian restaurants?

¿Sabes dónde puedo encontrar comida vegana?
Do you know where I can find vegan food?

When you’ve found a restaurant, use the following phrases to ensure that you don’t end up eating something you’d prefer not to. 

¿Tiene comida vegetariana?
Do you have vegetarian food?

¿Tiene opciones veganas?
Do you have vegan options?

Me gustaría algo sin carne.
I would like something without meat

¿Puedo tener este plato sin carne, por favor?
Can I please have this dish without meat? 

Quisiera este plato sin queso, por favor.
I would like this plate without cheese, please.

¿Lleva queso? –
Is there cheese in it?

¿Lleva carne?  
Is there meat in it?

Soy alérgica/alérgico a ________.
I am allergic to __________.

Here’s a handy list of words you can use to communicate what you don’t eat.

Spanish	English
La carne	Meat
Los huevos	Eggs
Los lácteos	Dairy
El queso	Cheese
La leche	Milk
La mantequilla	Butter
La crema	Cream
El pollo	Chicken
El puerco	Pork
El tocino	Bacon
El pescado	Fish
Los mariscos	Seafood

Be a Proud Vegetarian in Spanish!

Now that you’re equipped with the words and phrases you need to express why you’re a vegan or vegetarian in Spanish, as well as order food to your liking at a restaurant, you can travel more freely throughout Latin America and maintain your dietary integrity. 

What other tips do you have for vegans and vegetarians in Spanish-speaking countries? Leave a comment and start a conversation with like-minded world travelers and Spanish-speakers who read this blog!

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