frijoles refritos
/fɾixoles ɾefɾitos/from spelling rulesmasculine, plural
The English phrase "refried beans" is translated into Spanish as frijoles refritos.
frijoles refritos refers to the bean paste common in Central American and Southern US cuisine.
Meaning: bean paste eaten in Central America and Southern US (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is a literal translation of the English name: frijoles means "beans" and refritos means "fried again".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, such as Guatemala and El Salvador, the informal term frijoles volteados is commonly used instead of frijoles refritos.
How does it change in a sentence?
The term frijoles refritos is a masculine plural noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/fɾixoles ɾefɾitos/
Did you know?
- In certain Mexican regions, frijoles refritos are cooked in a comal, a traditional flat griddle that dates back to pre-Hispanic times.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, frijoles are not just a side dish but are essential to the 'desayuno', or breakfast, often served as the main protein source.
- While the name implies frying, the creamy consistency of authentic frijoles refritos actually comes from the beans' own natural starches. The frying process is primarily used to emulsify the mixture rather than to make it crispy.
Examples in context
- Mi plato favorito en el restaurante mexicano es el burrito con frijoles refritos.My favorite dish at the Mexican restaurant is the burrito with refried beans.
- Voy a pedir arepas con frijoles machacados en el puesto de comida colombiana.I'm going to order arepas with refried beans at the Colombian food stand.
- Me gustan los frijoles refritos con queso.I like refried beans with cheese.
- ¿Quieres más frijoles refritos en tu taco?Do you want more refried beans in your taco?
- Los frijoles refritos son muy sabrosos.The refried beans are very tasty.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are ordering food at a restaurant.
- MaríaMateo, ¿qué quieres comer hoy?Mateo, what do you want to eat today?
- MateoQuiero tacos con frijoles refritos.I want tacos with refried beans.
- MaríaEsa es una excelente elección.That is an excellent choice.
- MateoSí, me encantan los frijoles refritos.Yes, I love refried beans.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “refried beans” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
