How to Say “Grill” in Spanish

Ways to say it

Parrilla is the most common and widely used term for a barbecue or grill. It is used to refer to the cooking surface or the device itself. When you want to describe food that has been prepared this way, use the phrase a la parrilla, such as comida a la parrilla (grilled food). Other related terms include herramienta de parrilla (grilling tool) and salsa de barbacoa (barbecue sauce).

Which one should you use?

While parrilla refers to the metal grate or the device used for barbecuing, rejilla is used to refer to a small metal grate, such as a vent or a small strainer, rather than a cooking barbecue. The word grill is a masculine noun in Spanish.

Is it said differently in some regions?

Parrilla is used in both Spain and Latin America. In Spain, asador is more common and refers specifically to a barbecue or the device used for cooking. In Argentina and Uruguay, asado is used and churrasquera is also used in some parts of these countries to refer to a grill or barbecue.

Related words

To cook food on a grill (verb): asar, parrillar.

To cook food under a heat element (verb): gratinar.

How does it change in a sentence?

All three forms provided are nouns: rejilla and parrilla are feminine, while grill is masculine. If you want to express the action of cooking food on a grill, you can use the verbs asar or parrillar.

How do you pronounce it?

/paˈriʝa/

What mistakes should you avoid?

Do not use gratinar to mean 'to grill over coals'. The verb gratinar specifically means to cook something under a heat element to create a crust, such as making a gratin.