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
La carne causa varios problemas a nivel de salud física.
Meat causes various physical health problems.
Varios estudios concluyen que la carne procesada aumenta el riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares y diabetes.
Various studies conclude that processed meat increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
En 2015, la OMS declaró carcinógenas a la carne roja, las salchichas y la carne procesada.
In 2015, the WHO declared red meat, sausage, and processed meat as carcinogens.
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.
If meat is not organic, it can contain hormones and antibiotics that are given to animals on farms to prevent infection or stimulate fattening.
El estrés que sufre un animal cuando es sacrificado queda impregnado en su carne.
The stress that an animal undergoes when it is slaughtered remains impregnated in its meat.
2. Environmental Health
El consumo de carne no sólo afecta a la salud de las personas sino también la del medio ambiente.
The consumption of meat not only affects the health of people but also that of the environment.
En general, la producción de 1 kg de proteína animal requiere de aproximadamente 100 veces más agua que 1 kg de proteína vegetal.
In general, the production of 1 kg of animal protein requires approximately 100 times more water than 1 kg of vegetable protein.
La alta producción de ganadería contamina los suelos y las aguas subterráneas debido a la elevada concentración de excrementos y residuos farmacológicos.
The high production of livestock pollutes the soil and groundwater due to the high concentration of excrement and drug residues.
El 70% del terreno agrícola del planeta se destina a la alimentación y crianza de ganado.
70% of the agricultural land on the planet is used for feeding and raising livestock animals.
3. Animal Rights
Hay muchos libros, vídeos e imágenes sobre el trato horrible que se les da a los animales en las granjas industriales.
There are many books, videos, and images about the horrible treatment of animals in factory farms.
Un animal ha nacido para ser libre y hacer con su vida lo que crea conveniente.
An animal was born to be free and to do what it sees fit with 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.
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.
Dar refugio y convivir con los animales; eso me resuena más.
To give refuge and live together with animals; that resonates more with me.
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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