Food

1. Vocabulary: Familiarise yourself with the Spanish words for different types of food (frutas - fruits, verduras - vegetables, carnes - meats, pescado - fish, postres - desserts, etc.). Make flashcards or use an app to practise regularly.

2. Meals: Spain has a different meal schedule to many other European countries. The largest meal of the day is la comida which is eaten around 2pm. Dinner, la cena, is usually eaten after 9pm.

3. Meal vocabulary: Understand how to describe meals, from desayuno (breakfast), almuerzo (lunch), merienda (mid-afternoon snack) and cena (dinner).

4. Eating Habits: In Spain, people usually eat their meals with family, and it’s considered a time for socialising.

5. Tapas: These are small plates of food that are often shared among a group. It’s common to eat tapas instead of a full meal, especially in the evening.

6. Common Dishes: Learn the names and ingredients of popular Spanish dishes like paella, tortilla española, gazpacho, and others.

7. Diet Preferences: Learn how to communicate dietary restrictions or preferences, such as vegetarian (vegetariano), vegan (vegano), or gluten-free (sin gluten).

8. Ordering Food: Practice phrases and questions for ordering food in a restaurant, such as “¿Qué me recomienda?” (What do you recommend?) and “¿Me podría traer la cuenta, por favour?” (Could I have the bill please?)

9. Custom: It is customary in Spain to say “Buen provecho” before starting a meal, which means “Enjoy your meal”.

10. Vocabulary for Cookery: Understand terms related to cookery and the kitchen, such as horno (oven), cuchara (spoon), cuchillo (knife), and sartén (frying pan).