papitas
Mexico, potato chips
In Mexico potato chips are papitas or papas fritas, and tortilla chips are totopos. Bagged snacks in general are called botanas.
Meaning: thin fried snack (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| papitas | Mexico, potato chips |
| papas fritas | neutral |
| totopos | Mexico, tortilla chips |
Una bolsa de papitas is a bag of chips. Tortilla chips for salsa or nachos are totopos, sometimes also called tostadas when they are large and flat.
Which one should you use?
French fries are papas a la francesa in Mexico, so papas fritas can be confusing. The diminutive papitas is the safe word for the crispy snack.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Many Mexicans say Sabritas for potato chips, after a very common brand.
Did you know?
- In Mexico a snack eaten with drinks is called a botana, and chips with salsa are a classic one.
Examples in context
- Compré unas papitas para la fiesta.I bought some chips for the party.
- Los totopos van con guacamole.The tortilla chips go with guacamole.
- ¿Qué botanas hay?What snacks are there?
Example conversation
Iván and his friend Brenda choose snacks at a store in Cancún.
- Iván¿Qué compramos de botana?What do we buy for snacks?
- BrendaUnas papitas y totopos con salsa.Some chips and tortilla chips with salsa.
- IvánPerfecto, yo llevo los refrescos.Perfect, I will bring the sodas.
