Spanish · Food & Drink
"Bread" in Spanish: pan
el pan
Bread is el pan (pahn), a masculine noun. Ask for el pan or un poco de pan for some bread. A single roll is often un pan or un bolillo, depending on the country.
How to pronounce pan: audio and sound guideAt the bakery
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How to pronounce pan
Say it
pahn
/pan/
One syllable: pahn, like "pawn" but shorter. The a is open, as in "father". Do not add an English r at the end.
"Bread" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| el pan | bread Default word for bread as food. | Default word for bread as food. |
| el pan dulce | sweet bread / pastry Mexican bakery sweets eaten with coffee. | Mexican bakery sweets eaten with coffee. |
| el pan tostado | toast Breakfast toast at hotels and cafés. | Breakfast toast at hotels and cafés. |
| la panadería | bakery Where you buy fresh pan in the morning. | Where you buy fresh pan in the morning. |
How to use pan in real life
- 1At the bakery
¿Me da dos panes, por favor?
Could I have two rolls, please?
Panes can mean individual loaves or rolls when counted.
- 2At the table
Pasa el pan, por favor.
Pass the bread, please.
A polite table phrase with family or friends.
- 3Breakfast order
Quiero pan tostado con mantequilla.
I want toast with butter.
Pan tostado is the clear way to ask for toast.
Mistakes English speakers make with pan
Incorrect: La pan está caliente.
Correct: El pan está caliente.
Pan is masculine. Say el pan, un pan, este pan.
Incorrect: Compré una bread.
Correct: Compré pan. / Compré un pan.
Use pan, not the English word. For one roll say un pan; for bread in general, pan without a number is fine.
Good to know
Good to knowIn Mexico the morning bakery run is for pan dulce—sweet rolls with coffee—while savory bolillos hold tortas. Many Latin American tables still put bread beside the meal even when tortillas are the main starch. Spain’s pan can mean a long loaf; the word itself stays the same.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Buying breakfast at a panadería
ChatPal
El pan sale caliente a las siete.
The bread comes out hot at seven.
You
Perfecto. Quiero pan dulce y un bolillo.
Perfect. I want sweet bread and a bolillo.
ChatPal
¿Llevas el pan en bolsa?
Do you want the bread in a bag?
You
Sí, gracias.
Yes, thanks.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Bread" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Bread" in Spanish
Is pan masculine or feminine?
Masculine: el pan, un pan fresco. Panadería (bakery) is feminine, but pan itself is not.
How do you say toast?
Pan tostado. Some cafés also say una tostada, which can mean toast or a topped tortilla in Mexico—check the menu.
What is pan dulce?
Sweet bakery bread common in Mexico, eaten at breakfast with café. Conchas are one famous shape.
Can pan be plural?
Yes: los panes for several loaves or rolls. For bread as a mass, keep el pan.
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