Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tortilla | /toɾˈtiʝa/ | Spain, feminine |
| tortilla francesa | /toɾˌtiʝa fɾanˈθesa/ | feminine |
| torreja | /toˈrexa/ | feminine |
| omelette | /omeˈlet/ | feminine, masculine |
| omelet | /omeˈlet/ | feminine, masculine |
| homelet | /omeˈlet/ | Latin America, feminine, masculine |
The term refers to a dish made with beaten eggs.
Which one should you use?
In Spain, the word tortilla on its own usually refers to a tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelette with potatoes). To specify a plain omelette made only with beaten eggs (without potatoes), use tortilla francesa. Other forms include omelette, omelet and homelet.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, tortilla specifically suggests the potato version, while tortilla francesa is the plain version. The form homelet is used in Latin America. The forms omelette and omelet are also present in the language.
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms tortilla francesa, tortilla, torreja, omelette, omelet and homelet are all feminine, though omelette, omelet and homelet can also be masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
/toɾˈtiʝa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers should be careful not to confuse the Spanish tortilla (an egg dish) with the Mexican tortilla (a thin flatbread), although they share the same name in Spanish.
Did you know?
- In Spain, the tortilla de patatas is often served as a pincho, a small slice placed on a piece of bread and held up by a toothpick.
- In some Spanish regions, the debate over whether a tortilla de patatas should include onions is a passionate social and culinary controversy.
- The word tortilla comes from a diminutive of torta, which originally referred to a round, flat bread.
Examples in context
- ¿Puedes cocinar un omelet?Can you cook an omelette?This sentence is useful for asking if someone can cook an omelet.Tatoeba #2893711 by marcelostockle, translation #2195123 by Hybrid
- No puedes hacer un omelet sin quebrar huevos.You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.This sentence uses the expression omelet in a common idiom.Tatoeba #1606434 by marcelostockle, translation #3033268 by pne
- Por favor, haceme una tortilla de papas para cenar.Can you make me a Spanish omelette for dinner please?This sentence is useful for requesting a tortilla for dinner.Tatoeba #843179 by hayastan, translation #843256 by parheliu
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In a kitchen during breakfast.
- MaríaAlejandro, ¿quieres una tortilla?Alejandro, do you want an omelette?
- AlejandroSí, María, me encantaría.Yes, Maria, I would love that.
- MaríaLa tortilla tiene mucho queso hoy.The omelette has a lot of cheese today.
- Alejandro¡Qué rico! Muchas gracias.How delicious! Thank you very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “omelette” translations and entries tortilla, tortilla francesa, torreja, omelette, omelet, homelet, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries omelette, tortilla, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
