Spanish · Food & Drink
"Chicken" in Spanish: pollo
el pollo
For chicken on a menu, look for el pollo (POH-yoh). It is masculine: el pollo asado, un poco de pollo. The live bird can also be gallina or pollo depending on age and region, but food Spanish almost always says pollo.
Ordering lunch
Para mí, el pollo con arroz.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce pollo
Say it
POH-yoh
/ˈpo.ʝo/
POH-yoh, stress on POH. The ll sounds like English y in most of Latin America ("yo"). In some Andean and Peninsular accents you may hear a slight zh; y is the sound these pages teach.
"Chicken" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| el pollo | chicken Default word for chicken meat on menus. | Default word for chicken meat on menus. |
| el pollo asado | roast chicken Rotisserie chicken sold by the piece or whole bird. | Rotisserie chicken sold by the piece or whole bird. |
| el caldo de pollo | chicken soup / broth Comfort food when someone feels sick. | Comfort food when someone feels sick. |
| la pechuga de pollo | chicken breast A lean cut on healthier menus. | A lean cut on healthier menus. |
| sin pollo | without chicken For customizing mixed plates. | For customizing mixed plates. |
How to use pollo in real life
- 1Ordering lunch
Para mí, el pollo con arroz.
For me, the chicken with rice.
Para mí points to your choice when ordering.
- 2At a market rotisserie
¿Cuánto cuesta un pollo entero?
How much is a whole chicken?
Entero means the whole bird, not a piece.
- 3Cooking at home
El pollo necesita más sal.
The chicken needs more salt.
A simple kitchen comment while tasting.
Mistakes English speakers make with pollo
Incorrect: La pollo está lista.
Correct: El pollo está listo.
Pollo is masculine. Use el pollo and listo, not lista.
Incorrect: Quiero chicken frito.
Correct: Quiero pollo frito.
Say pollo frito for fried chicken. Keep the Spanish noun.
Good to know
Pollo asado from a neighborhood rotisserie is weekday fuel across Latin America—sold by quarters with tortillas or rice. Arroz con pollo is a festive one-pot cousin. Gallina appears more in stews and older recipes; if the menu says pollo, you are ordering chicken meat, not a live hen.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering at a pollo asado counter
ChatPal
Hoy el pollo asado sale con tortillas.
Today the roast chicken comes with tortillas.
You
Quiero un cuarto de pollo, por favor.
I want a quarter chicken, please.
ChatPal
¿El pollo con salsa verde?
Chicken with green salsa?
You
Sí, con salsa. Gracias.
Yes, with salsa. 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"Chicken" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Chicken" in Spanish
Is pollo masculine or feminine?
Masculine: el pollo, un pollo jugoso. Pechuga is feminine because that word is.
What is the difference between pollo and gallina?
Pollo is the usual food word for chicken. Gallina is a hen; you may see it in broth names, but menus usually say pollo.
How do you pronounce ll in pollo?
Like y in "yes" in most of Latin America: POH-yoh.
How do I say grilled chicken?
Pollo a la parrilla or pollo asado, depending on whether it is griddled/grilled or rotisserie-style.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- Y in Spanish AlphabetY in spanish alphabet. Learn how y works in the Spanish alphabet, from its names (ye and i griega) to its dual consonant and vowel pronunciation
- How to Practice Speaking Spanish with AI the Smart WayLearn how to practice speaking Spanish with AI using practical routines, realistic scenarios, and feedback loops that actually build real-world fluency.
