Food and drink (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Food and drink
This topic covers essential vocabulary and grammar structures for talking about food, drinks, and restaurant experiences in Spanish. You'll learn how to express preferences, order meals, and understand conversations about food.
Essential vocabulary
When discussing food and drink, you'll need to know these key terms. Building a strong foundation of food vocabulary is essential for expressing preferences and engaging in restaurant conversations.
Food items:
- el huevo - egg
- el pescado - fish
- el plato - plate, dish, course
- el pollo - chicken
- el jamón - ham
- la carne - meat
- la hamburguesa - burger
- la manzana - apple
- la mesa - table
- la naranja - orange
- la paella - paella
- las patatas fritas - chips, fries
- las tapas - tapas
- la verdura - vegetable
- los caramelos - sweets
- el arroz - rice
Useful phrases:
- ¿Qué vas a tomar? - What are you going to have?
- ¿Qué hay en...? - What is there in...?
- Quisiera... - I would like...
- Me gustaría... - I would like...
Learning food vocabulary in themed groups (like fruits, meats, restaurant phrases) helps with retention. Try to practice these words in context rather than memorising them in isolation.
Using "gustar" to express likes and dislikes
The verb "gustar" is essential for expressing what you like, but understanding how it works is crucial for Spanish learners because it operates completely differently from English.
Critical concept: Instead of saying "I like fish," you literally say "Fish pleases me" (Me gusta el pescado). This means the thing you like becomes the subject of the sentence, not the person doing the liking.
Key rules for gustar:
When you like one thing (singular), use "gusta":
- Me gusta el pescado - I like fish
- Me gusta salir a comer - I like eating out
When you like multiple things (plural), use "gustan":
- Me gustan las naranjas - I like oranges
Different people and gustar:
The pronoun changes depending on who likes something:
- te gusta(n) - you (singular) like
- le gusta(n) - he/she/it likes, or you (formal, singular) like
- nos gusta(n) - we like
- os gusta(n) - you (plural) like
- les gusta(n) - they like, or you (formal, plural) like
Worked Example: Using "gustar" correctly
Step 1: Identify what is liked (this becomes the subject) "I like apples" → the apples are what's liked
Step 2: Choose gusta or gustan based on whether it's singular or plural Apples = plural → use "gustan"
Step 3: Add the correct pronoun for who likes it I = me
Final result: Me gustan las manzanas
Using "encantar" for strong preferences
"Encantar" means "to love" or "to really like" and is essential for expressing enthusiasm about food. It follows exactly the same grammatical pattern as "gustar":
- Me encanta la paella - I love paella
- Me encantan los caramelos - I love sweets
This verb shows stronger preference than "gustar" and is perfect for expressing enthusiasm about food.
Both "gustar" and "encantar" follow identical grammatical rules. Once you master "gustar," you can immediately apply the same pattern to "encantar" for stronger expressions of preference.
Listening exam strategies
Listening exercises require specific techniques to succeed. Effective preparation and strategic listening are key to performing well in these assessments.
Before listening:
- Read the questions carefully to understand what information you need
- Look at any multiple choice options to predict possible answers
- Don't try to understand every word - focus on key information
Preparation tip: Use the time before the audio starts to familiarise yourself with the questions. This helps you know what to listen for rather than trying to catch everything.
During the listening:
- Remember you'll hear each extract twice
- Use the pauses between sections to jot down quick notes
- Don't write while still listening to new information
- Wait for the pauses to complete your answers
Key listening tips:
- Listen for tone and context, not just individual words
- A straightforward statement like "We both plan to have coffee" might be followed by disagreement from another speaker
- Pay attention to questions versus statements - "¿No quieres compartir una paella?" isn't necessarily a statement but could be a question that gets rejected
Common mistake: Students often focus too much on understanding every single word. Instead, listen for key information that answers the specific questions asked. Missing some words is normal and expected.
Worked Example: Listening Strategy
Question: "What does Maria want to drink?"
Step 1: Listen for Maria's name and drink-related vocabulary Step 2: Don't get distracted by other speakers or food mentions Step 3: Note her actual choice, not just what's offered to her
Even if you hear "¿Quieres café o té?" you need to wait for Maria's actual response to answer correctly.
Practice scenarios
Restaurant conversations provide excellent opportunities to practice food vocabulary alongside preference verbs in realistic contexts.
Restaurant conversations typically include:
- Asking how many people want a table
- Saying where you want to sit
- Stating what you want to eat
- Saying what you want to drink
- Asking how much something costs
These scenarios help you practice food vocabulary alongside "gustar" and "encantar" in authentic situations.
Translation practice
Translation exercises help reinforce both vocabulary and grammatical structures. Practice with both directions - Spanish to English and English to Spanish - strengthens your overall comprehension.
Worked Translation Practice
Spanish to English:
- Me gusta mucho el jamón con verduras
- No me gustan las patatas fritas
English to Spanish:
- I love paella
- We don't like sweets
Answers:
- I really like ham with vegetables
- I don't like chips/fries
- Me encanta la paella
- No nos gustan los caramelos
Key Points to Remember:
- "Gustar" works backwards - the thing you like is actually the subject of the sentence
- Use "gusta" for singular items and "gustan" for plural items
- "Encantar" follows the same pattern as "gustar" but expresses stronger preference
- In listening exams, focus on key information rather than understanding every word
- Practice restaurant vocabulary alongside preference verbs for realistic conversations