Spanish · Food & Drink
"Fish" in Spanish: pescado
el pescado
Note: the animal: el pez
On a plate, fish is el pescado (pes-KAH-doh). It is masculine: el pescado frito, un poco de pescado. The live animal is el pez; restaurants almost always write pescado.
At a seaside restaurant
El pescado del día es huachinango.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce pescado
Say it
pes-KAH-doh
/pesˈka.ðo/
pes-KAH-doh, stress on KAH. Soft d between vowels can sound light, but a clear d is fine. Keep three syllables even.
"Fish" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| el pescado | fish (as food) What you order and eat. | What you order and eat. |
| el pez | fish (the animal) Swimming fish; not the menu word. | Swimming fish; not the menu word. |
| el pescado frito | fried fish Beach and market favorite. | Beach and market favorite. |
| el ceviche de pescado | fish ceviche Citrus-marinated raw fish dishes on coastal menus. | Citrus-marinated raw fish dishes on coastal menus. |
| sin pescado | without fish Allergy or preference notes. | Allergy or preference notes. |
How to use pescado in real life
- 1At a seaside restaurant
El pescado del día es huachinango.
The fish of the day is red snapper.
Pescado del día marks the fresh catch.
- 2Ordering
Para mí, el pescado a la plancha.
For me, the grilled fish.
A la plancha means cooked on a flat grill.
- 3At a market
¿El pescado es fresco de hoy?
Is the fish fresh from today?
A fair question at a fish counter.
Mistakes English speakers make with pescado
Incorrect: Quiero pez frito.
Correct: Quiero pescado frito.
Pez is the animal. Food and menu Spanish use pescado.
Incorrect: La pescado está rico.
Correct: El pescado está rico.
Pescado is masculine. Use el pescado, un pescado fresco.
Good to know
Coastal Latin America leans hard on pescado—fried whole fish, ceviche, and daily catch boards. Inland cities still serve it, but "del día" matters more on the coast. Remember pez for aquariums and fishing talk; once it is dinner, switch to pescado.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering lunch by the sea
ChatPal
Hoy el pescado viene con ensalada.
Today the fish comes with salad.
You
¿El pescado es frito o a la plancha?
Is the fish fried or griddled?
ChatPal
Puedes pedir el pescado a la plancha.
You can order the fish griddled.
You
Eso quiero. Gracias.
That's what I want. 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"Fish" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Fish" in Spanish
What is the difference between pez and pescado?
Pez is a living fish. Pescado is fish as food. Menus use pescado.
Is pescado masculine or feminine?
Masculine: el pescado, un pescado grande.
How do you pronounce pescado?
pes-KAH-doh with stress on KAH.
How do I say I'm allergic to fish?
Soy alérgico/a al pescado. Add por favor when telling restaurant staff.
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
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