ñam
/ˈɲam/
The Spanish word for yum is ñam.
ñam is an onomatopoeia representing the sound of eating. It is used to express enjoyment of food, much like the English 'yum'. It can also be used informally as an adjective to mean 'delicious'.
Meaning: indicating delight at the flavor of food (intj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the expression ¡Está de rechupete! is a popular way to describe something that is incredibly tasty.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɲam/
When do people say it?
When you want to express that food is delicious, you can use several idiomatic expressions. You might say ¡Está para chuparse los dedos!
Did you know?
- In some regions, the sound ñam is used playfully by adults to tease someone who is eating greedily or quickly.
- Spanish speakers often use the word sabroso for 'tasty', which shares a root with sabor meaning 'flavor' and is related to the English word 'savor'.
- Unlike the English 'yum', which is almost always an interjection, ñam is frequently used as a noun in digital culture, such as using a 'ñam ñam' emoji or hashtag to signify a food post.
Examples in context
- ¡Delicioso! Este pastel de chocolate está para chuparse los dedos.Yum! This chocolate cake is finger-licking good.
- Me encanta el pastel de frutas, ¡siempre es tan sabroso!I love fruit cake, it's always so yummy!
- ¡Qué rico está este guiso de pollo!Yum, this chicken stew is delicious!
- Este asado de carne está para chuparse los dedos.This roast beef is finger-licking good!
- ¡Qué bueno está este mole!Yum, this mole is delicious!
- Prueba estas tapas, ¡están de rechupete!Try these tapas, they are absolutely scrumptious!
- ¡Ñam, este pastel está delicioso!Yum, this cake is delicious!
- ¡Ñam! Me encanta la sopa.Yum! I love the soup.
- Ese chocolate es muy rico, ¡ñam!That chocolate is very tasty, yum!
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are sharing a dessert at a cafe.
- SofíaMateo, prueba este postre.Mateo, try this dessert.
- Mateo¡Ñam! Está increíble, Sofía.Yum! It is incredible, Sofía.
- Sofía¿De verdad te gusta tanto?Do you really like it that much?
- MateoSí, es el mejor que he probado.Yes, it is the best I have tried.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yum” translations and entries ñam, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
