Spanish · Food & Drink
"Ham" in Spanish: jamón
el jamón
Ham is el jamón (hah-MOHN), a masculine noun. Order un sándwich de jamón or jamón con queso. Cured Spanish-style ham is jamón serrano; these pages keep Latin American deli talk first.
Café counter
Un sándwich de jamón y queso.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce jamón
Say it
hah-MOHN
/xaˈmon/
hah-MOHN, stress on MOHN. The j is a strong h sound. The accent on ó marks that stress in jamón.
"Ham" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| el jamón | ham Default word for sliced or cooked ham. | Default word for sliced or cooked ham. |
| el jamón de pavo | turkey ham Lighter deli option on many menus. | Lighter deli option on many menus. |
| el sándwich de jamón | ham sandwich Everyday café order. | Everyday café order. |
| el jamón serrano | dry-cured Serrano ham Spanish-style cured ham; note when menus use it. | Spanish-style cured ham; note when menus use it. |
How to use jamón in real life
- 1Café counter
Un sándwich de jamón y queso.
A ham and cheese sandwich.
Classic combo with jamón.
- 2Breakfast plate
¿Trae jamón el desayuno?
Does the breakfast come with ham?
Check sides that include jamón.
- 3Deli counter
Cien gramos de jamón, por favor.
A hundred grams of ham, please.
Weight order for sliced jamón.
Mistakes English speakers make with jamón
Incorrect: La jamón está salada.
Correct: El jamón está salado.
Jamón is masculine. Use el jamón, un jamón, este jamón.
Incorrect: Quiero jamon sin acento.
Correct: Quiero jamón.
Write the accent: jamón. It shows the stress on the last syllable.
Good to know
In much of Latin America jamón on a breakfast plate is usually cooked deli ham, not a whole cured leg. Jamón serrano appears on Spanish or tapas-style menus. If you want turkey, ask for jamón de pavo.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering a quick sandwich
ChatPal
¿Jamón con queso te parece bien?
Does ham with cheese sound good?
You
Sí, un sándwich de jamón.
Yes, a ham sandwich.
ChatPal
¿Con mucho jamón o poco?
With a lot of ham or a little?
You
Con bastante, gracias.
With plenty, 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"Ham" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Ham" in Spanish
Is jamón masculine or feminine?
Masculine: el jamón, un jamón dulce. Adjectives often end in -o: salado, fresco.
How do you pronounce jamón?
hah-MOHN. The j in jamón sounds like a strong English h, and ó carries the stress.
What is jamón serrano?
A dry-cured Spanish-style ham. On everyday Latin American breakfasts, plain jamón is usually cooked deli ham.
How do I order turkey ham?
Say jamón de pavo. Staff hear that contrast with regular pork jamón.
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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