Spanish · Food & Drink
"Cheese" in Spanish: queso
el queso
Cheese translates as el queso (KEH-soh). It is masculine: el queso fresco, un poco de queso. Soft fresh cheese on Latin American tables is often queso fresco.
How to pronounce queso: audio and sound guideAt a market stall
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How to pronounce queso
Say it
KEH-soh
/ˈke.so/
KEH-soh, stress on KEH. The qu before e sounds like a plain k—there is no "w" sound. The s is a clear s, not a z buzz.
"Cheese" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| el queso | cheese Default word for cheese. | Default word for cheese. |
| el queso fresco | fresh cheese Mild crumbly cheese common in Mexico and Central America. | Mild crumbly cheese common in Mexico and Central America. |
| el queso rallado | grated cheese For pasta, antojitos, or melting on top. | For pasta, antojitos, or melting on top. |
| el sandwich de queso | cheese sandwich A simple order; also sándwich de queso. | A simple order; also sándwich de queso. |
| sin queso | without cheese Useful when customizing tacos or burgers. | Useful when customizing tacos or burgers. |
How to use queso in real life
- 1At a market stall
¿Me da un cuarto de queso fresco?
Could I have a quarter kilo of fresh cheese?
Cheese is often sold by weight at markets.
- 2Ordering food
Los tacos llevan queso, ¿verdad?
The tacos come with cheese, right?
Llevar means "to come with" on a plate.
- 3In the kitchen
Ralla un poco de queso encima.
Grate a little cheese on top.
Rallar is the verb for grating.
Mistakes English speakers make with queso
Incorrect: La queso está rico.
Correct: El queso está rico.
Queso is masculine. Say el queso, un queso suave, este queso.
Incorrect: Quiero cheese en la ensalada.
Correct: Quiero queso en la ensalada.
Use queso. English cheese is a false friend only in sound with nothing useful—just switch to queso.
Good to know
Good to knowQueso fresco is a mild, salty fresh cheese crumbled over beans, tacos, and salads across Mexico and Central America. It rarely tastes like aged European cheddar. In Spain you will meet many regional cheeses by name; these pages keep the everyday Latin American word queso and the fresh style you see on street food.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Building a quick lunch plate
ChatPal
¿Quieres queso en los frijoles?
Do you want cheese on the beans?
You
Sí, queso fresco, por favor.
Yes, fresh cheese, please.
ChatPal
¿Más queso rallado encima?
More grated cheese on top?
You
Un poco de queso, nada más.
A little cheese, nothing more.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Cheese" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Cheese" in Spanish
Is queso masculine or feminine?
Masculine: el queso, mucho queso, queso blanco.
What is queso fresco?
A fresh, mild cheese that crumbles easily. It is less sharp than aged cheddar.
How do I say grated cheese?
Queso rallado. The verb is rallar: ralla el queso.
How do you pronounce queso?
KEH-soh. Qu before e or i is always a k sound in Spanish.
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