How to Say “Roast” in Spanish

Ways to say it

The primary meaning is to cook food by heating it in an oven or over a fire. Depending on the specific technique or region, other verbs such as tatemar may be more appropriate.

Which one should you use?

While asar can mean roasting in an oven, it is also the standard verb for grilling over an open flame or coals. In contrast, tatemar is used specifically for roasting or charring ingredients like chilies or tomatoes directly over a fire or on a hot surface to char the skin, a technique common in Mexican cuisine. The forms rostir and rustir are also present in the language.

Is it said differently in some regions?

In Mexico, tatemar is the specific term for charring ingredients over heat. In the Caribbean and some other Latin American countries, the word lechón is used to refer specifically to a roasted suckling pig. In Argentina and Uruguay, the word parrillada refers to a barbecue or grill that typically includes various types of roasted meats.

Related words

Comical event (noun): brindis cómico, vejamen.

Having been cooked by roasting (adj): asado.

How does it change in a sentence?

The past participle asado functions as an adjective to describe food that has been roasted. Additionally, in many Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in the Southern Cone, asado is used as a noun to refer to a traditional barbecue or the meat cooked on a grill.

How do you pronounce it?

/aˈsaɾ/

When do people say it?

If you are referring to a comical event or a mockery, you should use the nouns brindis cómico or vejamen instead of cooking terms.