patata frita
/patata fɾita/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the English phrase 'chip' (referring to a thin, crisp, fried piece of potato or vegetable) is translated as patata frita.
This term is used to describe a fried piece of potato or vegetable. If you are referring to an electronic 'chip', the formal Spanish term is microchip.
Meaning: thin, crisp, fried piece of potato or vegetable (noun)
Which one should you use?
While patata frita can mean a fried potato, the plural form patatas fritas is the standard way to refer to potato chips (crisps) in Spain.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In most of Latin America, the word papa is used instead of patata to refer to the potato, making papa frita the common way to say French fry or potato chip in those regions.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/patata fɾita/
Did you know?
- Spanish uses the word papa for the potato, which is a cognate of the Quechua word papa used by the indigenous people of the Andes.
- The word patata is believed to be a blend of papa and the Taíno word batata, which refers to a sweet potato.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, the phrase papas fritas is the default term for a side dish of fries, while bagged chips are often called papitas to denote their small size.
Examples in context
- Esta patata frita está muy salada.This chip is very salty.
- Me encanta cada patata frita de este paquete.I love every chip in this bag.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are sharing a snack while watching a movie.
- Elena¿Te gusta esta patata frita, Mateo?Do you like this chip, Mateo?
- MateoSí, es muy crujiente.Yes, it is very crunchy.
- ElenaToma otra patata frita de la bolsa.Take another chip from the bag.
- MateoGracias, Elena, están muy buenas.Thanks, Elena, they are very good.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries patata, CC BY-SA 4.0.
