How to talk about food in English. Topic in English on the topic food (food) Questions in English on the topic food

Traditional English food has been greatly influenced by other national cuisines in recent years. Despite this fact, if you travel to Britain, you can still be served up traditional English dishes in a restaurant or at a hotel.

A typical English breakfast is usually quite big and substantial. It includes pork sausages, bacon and eggs, tomatoes, baked beans, mushrooms and a toast. Some people enjoy porridge, fruit and yogurt in the morning, followed by a toast and jam, or orange marmalade. A traditional breakfast drink is tea, which British people prefer having with cold milk. Another popular morning drink is orange juice.

For many Englishmen lunch is a fast meal. In big cities there are a lot of sandwich bars where office clerks can choose all sorts of sandwiches with meat, fish, chicken, ham, prawns, eggs, cheese, vegetables and lettuce. English pubs also serve good food for lunch, hot and cold. Quite a lot of workers go to the famous “fish and chips shops” and buy their favorite deep fried cod or haddock with French fries.

A lot of Englishmen drink their 5 o’clock tea. It’s a traditional light meal after work. People enjoy their favorite teas with cookies, cakes, freshly baked sweet buns, scones and other pastries.

British people eat their evening meal at about 7 o'clock, when all members of the family are at home together. As a rule, a typical dinner is meat and vegetables. It can be roast chicken or lamb with potatoes, or steamed vegetables with meat gravy. For dessert, English wives cook various puddings and serve them with ice-cream or jam.

On Sundays British families like to sit together at the table enjoying roast beef, lamb or chicken, served with Yorkshire pudding and dressed with English mustard, apple sauce, cranberry sauce or mint sauce.

English food is simple but very delicious. Today it continues to merge in national cuisines from all over the world.

Translation

Traditional English food has been heavily influenced by other national cuisines in recent years. Despite this fact, if you travel to the UK, you may still be served traditional English food in a restaurant or hotel.

A typical English breakfast is usually quite large and substantial. It includes pork sausages, bacon and eggs, tomatoes, baked beans, mushrooms and toast. Some people like to eat porridge, fruit and yoghurt in the morning, followed by toast with jam or orange marmalade. The traditional breakfast drink is tea, which the British love to drink with cold milk. Another popular morning drink is orange juice.

For many English people, lunch is a quick meal. In big cities there are many sandwich bars where office clerks can choose any kind of sandwich with meat, fish, chicken, ham, shrimp, eggs, cheese, vegetables and lettuce. English pubs also serve good food, hot and cold, for lunch. Quite a few workers go to the famous Fish and Chips cafes and buy their favorite deep-fried cod or haddock and chips.

Many English people drink five o'clock tea. This is a traditional light meal after work. People enjoy their favorite variety of tea with biscuits, cakes, freshly baked sweet buns, scones and other baked goods.

The British have dinner in the evening at about 7 o'clock, when all family members are at home together. Typically, a typical dinner consists of meat and vegetables. It could be roast chicken or lamb with potatoes, or steamed vegetables and meat with gravy. For dessert, English wives prepare various puddings and serve them with ice cream or jam.

On Sundays, British families love to sit down to the table and enjoy roast beef, lamb or chicken, served with Yorkshire pudding and topped with English mustard, applesauce, cranberry sauce or mint sauce.

We can talk endlessly about delicious food and cuisine from different countries of the world. We all love to have a snack somewhere in a cafe or cook something special at home. The topic of food and nutrition is always relevant - talking about food can unite even unfamiliar people and help maintain a conversation. It's not all about the weather :)

Today we’ll talk about vocabulary on the topic of “food” in English. We’ll talk about what food products are called, what the British prefer, how to talk about food correctly, and of course, we’ll learn a lot of new words about food in English with translation.

The British and food. What do the British eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

The British are known for their traditions and respect for history. Everyone knows that the British are very polite in communication: they are unlikely to jostle in front of the bus, pushing everyone aside with their elbows in order to catch the boarding. Rather, they will sincerely apologize if they accidentally touch you on the street. The British as a nation honor and respect traditions, follow them with pleasure and instill a love for them in the next generation. So it is with food - it occupies an important place in the life of the British and many customs and everyday habits are associated with it.

What food habit do you think of when we talk about England? Of course, about 5 o’clock tea!

From 4 to 6 pm in Britain it is “tea time”. Usually the British drink black tea with milk and small sandwiches. The British can easily compete with the Chinese in tea drinking culture, because for them tea is not just a drink, but a whole ritual. In Great Britain they love tea and even joke good-naturedly about it.

According to the British, tea must be strong, hot, and sweet like a woman’s kiss - Tea must be strong, hot and sweet, like a woman’s kiss.

A few tea-related idioms:

Not somebody's cup of tea - Not his cup of tea (not to be part of someone’s sphere of interest)

To take tea with somebody - Drink tea with someone (have a relationship with someone, do business)

Нusband's tea - husband's tea (very weakly brewed tea)

At breakfast, the British prefer simple and hearty food: oatmeal, scrambled eggs and bacon, toast with jam and, of course, tea or coffee.

You can often find a meal called brunch - it is formed by combining the words breakfast and lunch. This is a snack between breakfast and lunch, or simply “second breakfast”.

The daily meal is called lunch. The most traditional lunch meal is fish and chips. Fish and chips can be found anywhere in England, be it a fine restaurant or a food truck on the street. British people rarely eat pasta or rice. For dessert, they prefer warm apple pie (apple pie) or pudding (milk pudding).

Dinner (dinner) is in many ways similar to lunch in composition, only lighter. After dinner, before bed, the British can drink cocoa with light snacks. This kind of food before bed is called supper.

Expressions about eating in English:

Have breakfast - have breakfast

Have lunch - have lunch

Have dinner - have dinner

Have supper - eat before bed

Have (a) coffee / tea - drink coffee / tea

Have a meal - take food

Have a snack - have a snack

Have a drink - drink

Shopping list: product names in English with translation

Before you go to the store to buy groceries for dinner, you should find out exactly where to go. In addition to the well-known supermarket, minimarket or grocery shop, there are specialized stores. See below for the name of a butcher shop or, for example, a confectionery shop in English:

Butcher's - butcher shop

Sweet / candy shop - confectionery

Bakery - bakery

Dairy - milk store

Fishmonger's - fish store

Greengrocer's - vegetable store

Health food store - health food store

Liquor store - alcohol store

Delicatessen - gastronomic department

Produce - fruit and vegetable department (in a supermarket)

Food and products in English with translation

It doesn’t matter whether you went shopping at a supermarket or the nearest corner shop - you need to know what exactly to buy. How to say different products in English. Let's divide them into subtopics to make it easier to remember.

Meat

• bacon - bacon
• beef - beef
• chicken - chicken
• duck - duck
• ham - ham
• lamb - lamb meat
• liver - liver
• meat - meat
• mutton - lamb
• ox tongue - beef tongue
• patridge - partridge
• pork - pork
• poultry - bird, game
• sausage - sausage
• tenderloin - fillet, tenderloin
• turkey - turkey
• veal - veal
• venison - venison

Fish

• cod – cod
• eel – eel
• grouper – sea bass
• herring - herring
• mackerel – mackerel
• pike - pike
• pikeperch – pike perch
• plaice – flounder
• salmon - salmon
• sardines - sardines
• sole – sea tongue
• sturgeon - sturgeon
• trout - trout

Vegetables

• asparagus - asparagus
• avocado - avocado
• bean sprout - green beans
• beans - beans
• beet - beet
• broccoli - broccoli
• brussels sprout - Brussels sprouts
• cabbage - cabbage
• carrot - carrot
• cauliflower - cauliflower
• chard - chard, Swiss chard
• chick pea - chickpeas, chickpeas
• cucumber - cucumber
• eggplant / aubergine - eggplant
• garlic - garlic
• kohlrabi - kohlrabi
• leek - leek
• lentils - lentils
• onion - onion
• pea - peas
• pepper - capsicum
• potato - potato
• scallion - green onion
• spinach - spinach
• pumpkin / squash - pumpkin
• sweet potato - sweet potato, sweet potato
• turnip - turnip
• zucchini - zucchini

Fruits, berries and nuts

• almond - almonds
• apple - apple
• apricot - apricot
• banana - banana
• berry - berry
• blackberry - blackberry
• blueberry - blueberry
• brazil nut - Brazilian nut
• cashew - cashew
• cherry - cherry
• cranberry - cranberry
• grape - grapes
• grapefruit - grapefruit
• hazelnut - hazelnut
• lemon - lemon
• lime - lime
• macadamia - macadamia nut
• melon - melon
• orange - orange
• peach - peach
• peanut - peanut
• pear - pear
• pecan - pecan nut
• pineapple - pineapple
• pistachio - pistachios
• plum - plum
• raspberry - raspberry
• strawberry - strawberry
• tangerine / mandarin - tangerine
• walnut - walnut
• watermelon - watermelon

Cereals

• barley - barley
• buckwheat - buckwheat
• grain - grain
• lentil - lentil
• pea - peas
• pearl barley - pearl barley
• rice - rice
• semolina, manna groats - semolina
• wheat - wheat

Dairy

• butter - butter
• cheese - cheese
• condensed milk - condensed milk
• cottage cheese - cottage cheese
• cream - cream
• cultured milk foods - fermented milk products
• dried milk - powdered milk
• eggs - eggs
• ice cream - ice cream
• kefir - kefir
• lactose - lactose, milk sugar
• milk - milk
• milk shake - milkshake
• sheep cheese - sheep cheese
• sour cream - sour cream
• whey - whey
• yogurt - yogurt

Desserts and sweets

• bagel - bagel (pretzel made from yeast dough)
• biscuit / cookie - cookies
• box of chocolates - box of chocolates
• bun / roll - bun
• butterscotch / toffee - toffee
• cake - cake, cupcake, cake
• sweet / candy - candy
• candy bar - chocolate bar
• caramel - caramel
• carrot cake - carrot pie
• cheesecake - curd cake
• chewing gum - chewing gum
• chocolate - chocolate
• chocolate bar - chocolate bar
• cinnamon - cinnamon
• cinnamon roll - cinnamon roll
• cracker - cracker
• croissant - croissant
• cupcake - cupcake
• custard - sweet custard
• danish pastry - yeast puff pastry
• dessert - dessert
• flan - open pie with berries, fruits
• fritter - deep-fried meat or fruit
• frosting - glaze
• frozen yogurt - frozen yogurt
• gelato, ice cream - ice cream
• gingerbread - gingerbread
• granola - muesli
• honey - honey
• jam - jam; jam
• jelly - jelly
• lollipop - lollipop
• maple syrup - maple syrup
• marmalade - jam, confiture
• marshmallow - marshmallow
• muffin - muffin
• nougat - nougat
• oatmeal cookie - oatmeal cookies
• pancake - pancake, pancake
• peanut butter - peanut butter
• popcorn - popcorn
• canned fruit - canned fruit
• pretzel - pretzel
• pudding - pudding
• pumpkin pie - pumpkin pie
• sponge cake - sponge cake, sponge cake
• strudel - strudel
• sugar - sugar
• toffee - toffee
• vanilla - vanilla
• waffle - waffle

Soft drinks

• coffee - coffee
• juice - juice
• carbonated water / sparkling water / club soda - water with gas
• cream - cream
• hot chocolate - hot cocoa
• iced tea - iced tea
• lemonade - lemonade
• milkshake - milkshake
• mineral water - mineral water
• root beer - root beer, root beer (non-alcoholic carbonated drink with herbs)
• soda - carbonated flavored water
• soft drink - non-alcoholic drink
• still water - water without gas
• tea - tea
• water - water

Alcohol

• red / white / rose wine - white / red / rose wine
• cooler - an alcoholic cocktail, usually based on wine
• beer - beer
• bourbon whiskey - bourbon whiskey
• champagne - champagne
• sparkling wine - sparkling wine
• cocktail - cocktail
• eggnog - alcoholic drink based on beaten eggs
• liqueur - liqueur
• mulled wine - mulled wine
• scotch whiskey - Scotch whiskey

When choosing food products, pay attention to the packaging and the following markings:

• caffeine free - does not contain caffeine
• decaf - decaffeinated (about coffee)
• diet - does not contain sugar (about drinks)
• fat free - low fat (about dairy products)
• lean - low-calorie, lean (about products)
• light - low alcohol content
• low cholesterol - low in cholesterol
• low fat - low-fat (about dairy products)
• no preservatives - without preservatives

Don't forget that in the supermarket you may need a trolley or shopping-cart (grocery cart). After all purchases, go to the cashier's desk (cash desk) to pay for the goods.

Names of dishes in English with translation

Now that we know the basic names of the products, it’s time to talk about what you can cook from them at home or order in a restaurant.

Common dishes that can be found on the menu:

• chop - meat on the bone
• cutlet - cutlet
• bacon and eggs - bacon with eggs
• baked potatoes / jacket potatoes - baked potatoes in their jackets
• boiled rice - boiled rice
• burger - burger
• eggs over easy - fried eggs fried on both sides
• french fries - french fries
• fried eggs / eggs sunny side up - fried eggs
• fried rice - fried rice
• grill - grilled meat
• goulash - goulash
• hash browns / hash brown potatoes / potato pancakes
• hot dog - hot dog
• lasagne - lasagne
• mashed potatoes - mashed potatoes
• noodles - noodles
• omelette / scrambled eggs - omelette
• onion rings - onion rings
• pasta - pasta
• pizza - pizza
• poached eggs - poached eggs
• porridge - porridge
• roast - meat fried over an open fire
• roast goose - Christmas goose
• roasted vegetables - baked vegetables
• sandwich - sandwich, sandwich
• salad - salad
• soup - soup
• spaghetti bolognese - spaghetti bolognese
• stew - stewed meat
• sirloin steak - boneless steak (large piece)
• spare ribs - ribs
• steak - steak
• tempura - batter

In a restaurant, we study the menu and find out what the restaurant's main course is, what soup of the day is served, and what is offered for dessert.

If you order meat, remember that there are several degrees of readiness: with blood - rare; medium rare with blood – medium rare; fully cooked – well-done.

To go with the meat, you can choose something from the wine list (wine card) or order a soft drink (non-alcoholic drink).

Types of eateries where you can dine:

• all-you-can-eat buffet - buffet-style snack bar
• buffet - buffet
• cafe - cafe
• coffee house - coffee shop
• diner - an inexpensive eatery, often located on the side of the road (found in American language)
• drive-through / drive-thru / drive in - a drive-through diner where visitors place and receive orders without leaving their car
• restaurant - restaurant

Here are some phrases to help you order at a restaurant:

Can I have the menu, please? - Can I have a menu, please?

Can I take your order? - May I take your order?

Would you like something to drink? - Will you have any drinks? / Would you like something to drink?

What would you like for dessert? - What would you like for dessert?

I am not ready yet - I’m not ready yet (in response to the waiter’s question if you are ready to place an order)

What is this dish? - What kind of dish is this?

What do you recommend? - What do you recommend?

What are your specialties? - What are your signature dishes?

I will have... - I will...

I would like... - I would like...

I will take this - I'll take it

Could we have an extra chair, please? - Can we have an extra chair, please?

Could I see the wine list, please? - Can I see the wine list, please?

Do you serve wine by the glass? - Do you have wine by the glass?

Can I change my order? - Can I change my order?

Can I get this to go? - Can I take this with me?

Nothing else, thank you - Nothing else, thank you This is not what I ordered - This is not what I ordered

Can I get/have the bill/check, please? - Could I have the bill, please?

How much is the total? - How much is the total?

Does the bill include the service charge? - Are tips included in the bill?

I am paying for everyone - I pay for everyone

We are paying separately - We pay separately

Can I pay by card? - Can I pay by card?

Keep the change - No change needed / Keep the change for yourself

Everything was great, I’ll come again - Everything was excellent, I’ll come again

Idioms about food in English with translation

And finally, let’s study a few well-established expressions and idioms in English that will help you speak like a native speaker and understand the English even better.

Big cheese - big shot, important person (literally: big cheese)

To bring home the bacon - earn money for a piece of bread (literally: bring home the bacon)

A piece of cake - like twice two, easy (literally: a piece of cake)

To be as cool as a cucumber - calm as a boa constrictor (literally: to be cool as a cucumber)

To be full of beans - energetic, lively, full of strength (literally: to be full of beans)

To buy a lemon - buy something unnecessary (literally: buy a lemon)

Chew the fat - wash the bones (literally: chew fat)

Like two peas in a pod - two boots of a pair, birds of a feather (literally: like two peas in a pod)

To eat a humble pie - humble yourself, swallow the insult (literally: eat a humble pie)

Carrot and stick - carrot and stick (literally: carrot and stick)

To cry over spilled milk - to grieve over trifles (literally: to cry over spilled milk)

For peanuts - very cheap, for pennies (literally: for peanuts)

Go bananas - go crazy (not literally translated)

Meal ticket - something that will provide a comfortable life, a source of income (literally: meat ticket)

Hot potato - a situation that can cause trouble (literally: hot potato)

Be in the soup - to be in a difficult situation (literally: to be in the soup)

To polish the apple - to earn someone’s favor (literally: to polish an apple)

To walk on eggs - be very careful (literally: walk on eggs)

Enjoy your meal!

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Most of the food common in English-speaking countries is familiar to residents of Russia. They also like to eat meat and fish, potatoes and other vegetables, sweets and cakes. Food in English always has an analogue in Russian. Difficulties begin when it comes not to individual products, but to national dishes. Here it is no longer always possible to find an English equivalent of Russian food, and vice versa. But, first things first, we’ll start with the vocabulary of products.

Vegetables and fruits

Vegetables and fruits in English-speaking countries grow almost the same as in Russia, with rare exceptions. And food preferences also coincide: among vegetables, potatoes, onions and tomatoes are very popular, and among berries and fruits – apples, oranges and strawberries.

Vegetables

Fruits and berries

Grocery

Groceries are food that does not spoil for a long time. Note that there are few grains in this lexical category, since they are practically not eaten in the USA and Great Britain, with the possible exception of rice.

Meat, fish and seafood

Meat and meat products are especially loved in the United States. But seafood food is more popular in Australia and New Zealand.

Popular dishes by meal

In English-speaking countries, according to unwritten rules of nutrition, the most significant meal of the day is dinner, and not lunch, as is customary in Russia. Breakfast in the West is also different from what we are used to - it is usually quite high in calories and may include fatty meat; lunch in most cases is fast food, and often not American: Mexican tacos and burritos or Asian noodles. But dinner usually consists of several courses.

Breakfast

Lunches

Dinners

Dessert

The vocabulary on the topic of desserts is characterized by an abundance of names for puddings, cheesecakes and muffins with a variety of fillings. But traditional cakes and sweets are also enjoyed with pleasure in English-speaking countries.

English names of Russian dishes

Most Russian dishes have no translation; their names are transliterated, that is, simply written in Latin letters. But some Russian dishes also have analogues in Western cuisine.

Video about food in English:

Food in English is a broad topic. In schools and universities, students are asked to write an essay on the topic “My favorite food” in English. Writing a story about food in English is not difficult, you just have to remember your favorite dishes or touch on the problem of recent years - proper nutrition. As an example, I prepared a topic “My favorite food” about food with translation into Russian. In the article you will also find English words on the topic of food.

From the article you will learn:

English words about food

Food in English sounds like food, but there are also words feed, meal, nutrition, which mean approximately the same thing, but with a different semantic connotation. Therefore, I have prepared a small dictionary with English words on the topic of food.

• food - food, food
• meal - food
• eating - meal
• eating habits - eating habits
• nutrition - nutrition
• nutrients - nutrients
• diet - diet
• foodstuff - food product
• animal meat - animal meat
• seafood - seafood

Now you can go directly to the English topic on food. The story touches not only on the topic of favorite food, but also healthy eating.

My favorite food. Healthy eating

All food is made up of nutrients which our bodies use. There are different kinds of nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Different foods contain different nutrients.

First of all I do not eat animal meat at all. I prefer fish and other seafood. So in the morning I usually have some cottage cheese with kefir, then I have tea with two butterbroads. At dinner I have vegetable soup, a salad and fried fish. I do not have desserts, but only tea with lemon and sugar. For supper I have just a salad and then I eat fruit.

For some food is a source of pleasure, for others - a source of energy. For me food – is a pleasant source of energy. To my mind healthy food should be quite simple. I eat complicated dishes only in restaurants. My daily meals consist of the same dishes every day.

The best way is to get into the habit of checking the ingredients and nutritional value on the sides of packets although this isn’t always easy to do. Another thing to know is, for example, that we do need fat to live, it’s an essential part of our diet and physically we couldn’t exist without it.

The food we eat, depends on lots of things. Taste is a big factor. Culture, religion and health also play a part in what food we eat. Advertising and social factors also have a big influence.

So I love all kinds of milk products, especially kefir, cheese. I prefer cheeses from Russia and Germany. I like different kinds of salads, dressed with olive oil or sour cream. I also love all kinds of potato dishes. I usually drink down food with natural juices or kvass.

Well, of course, on weekends I want to try a new dish. If I have free time, I try to invent a new salad or find an interesting recipe. On weekends I let myself have good red dry wine. Well, many doctors say that red wine in reasonable quantities is very good for health.

I do not buy in shops ready or semi-manufactured food products, because this is unhealthy. It is better to spend some time cooking, than to have problems with overweight and heart.

Income is also an important factor.

Finally, there are three main messages to follow for healthy eating:

1. First, we should eat less fat, particularly saturated fat.
2. Secondly, we are to cut down on sugar and salt.
3. Thirdly, we must eat more fresh fruit and vegetables

Also I prefer to have tea with bitter chocolate or home-made jams. As I do not change my daily dishes, I very rarely have stomach problems. Actually I think that the simpler food is, the better is its taste.

Translation of the topic food into Russian: My favorite food. Healthy eating

All food contains nutrients that are used by our body. There are different types of nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Different foods contain different nutrients.

First of all, I don't eat animal meat. I prefer fish and other seafood. So, in the morning I usually eat cheese with kefir, then I drink tea with two sandwiches. For lunch I eat vegetable soup, salad and fried fish. I don’t eat desserts, only tea with lemon and sugar. For dinner I only eat salad and then some fruit.

So, for some, food is a source of pleasure, for others it is a source of energy. For me, food is a pleasant source of energy. In my opinion, healthy food should be very simple. I only eat multi-ingredient meals in restaurants. I eat the same food every day.

It's best to get into the habit of checking the ingredients and energy values ​​listed on the packages themselves, although this isn't always easy to do. We also need to know that we really need fats, this is an important component in our diet for the functioning of the body, and physically we cannot exist without them.

The kind of food we eat depends on many factors. Taste is a big factor. Culture, religion and health also play a role in what food we eat. Advertising and social factors have a great influence.

So, I love all types of dairy products, especially kefir and cheese. I prefer cheese from Russia and Germany. I love different types of salads dressed with olive oil or sour cream. I also love all types of potato dishes. I usually wash my food down with natural juices or kvass.

Of course, on the weekend I want to try new dishes. If I have some free time, I try to make a new salad or find an interesting recipe. On weekends I allow myself a good dry red wine. So, many doctors say that red wine has good properties and is very good for health.

I don't buy ready-made or processed food in stores because it's not healthy food. It is better to spend time cooking than to have health problems later.

Income is also an important factor.

Finally, there are three main things you need to do to eat right:

1. first, we should eat less fat, especially fat high in saturated fatty acids;
2. secondly, we must reduce our intake of sugar and salt;
3. thirdly, we should eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.

I also prefer to drink tea with a little chocolate or homemade jam. Since I don't change my diet from day to day, my stomach very rarely bothers me. In general, I think that the simpler the food, the better it tastes.

Thus, healthy eating has a great impact on our health. I hope you liked the story about food and found it useful.

What kind of food do you eat and what do you like to eat?

Subscribe in the comments.

Before dinner?
In vain.
All those photos of friends with huge burgers, colorful smoothies and chocolate cakes really whet your appetite.

Food is one of the most discussed topics both online and offline.
If you want to engage in these discussions in English, you will need many different words and phrases to describe food and flavors.
This is exactly what we will talk about today.

We've collected 25 basic phrases about food in English so you can feel comfortable in restaurants, cafes, at parties, or comment on your friend's latest post on Instagram.

Why are phrases about food so important if you're learning a foreign language?
We will answer this question with another question: why do people always talk about food?
The answer is simple. Food is universal. Everyone eats. It is so necessary and so simple. People want to find delicious, healthy food, the best places to eat, etc. So it's no surprise that everyone is talking about food.

In The Huffington Post, award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson talks about how food intersects with culture. Every culture, every country has its own cuisine. This is what makes our travels so exciting.
Not only do you enjoy the sights and views, but you also know that exciting new culinary adventures await you.

Food is, of course, a great way to make friends with new people. When people sit around the same table, you can be sure that conversations about food, restaurants and recipes will be endless.

25 food words and phrases to add to your vocabulary

Replace the word “delicious” (delicious).

Have you noticed how often the word delicious is used to describe food? Using this word too often can quickly become boring. So let's find other ways to say "delicious."

1. Tastes great!

Are you eating something delicious right now? Use this expression.

I’m so glad I ordered this pizza-it tastes great!
I'm so glad I ordered this pizza - it tastes great!

2. Really good!

Here's another phrase to replace the word "delicious."

Have you tried the chocolate cake? It's really good!
Have you tried chocolate cake? He's really good!

3. Wow, it's amazing!

If something tastes better than you expected, you can use the word "wow" to express your surprise and delight. This expression means greater delight and approval than the previous two options (tastes great and really good).

Wow, this pasta is amazing!
Wow, this pasta is amazing!

4. Yummy

This is an informal way of saying you enjoy your meal. You can just say "Yummy!" (“Gluttony!”).

This cheesecake is really yummy. I'm going for another slice.
This cheesecake is to die for. I'm going to eat another piece.

5. Flavorful

This is a great adjective to describe a flavorful food that tastes and smells delicious.

I love how flavorful this soup is with all the fresh herbs and vegetables in it.
I love how flavorful this soup is with fresh herbs and vegetables.

6. Mouth-watering

This is the perfect phrase to describe a dish that is so delicious and flavorful that it makes your mouth water.

His mom makes such mouth-watering cakes that I just can’t wait to go over to his house tonight.
His mom makes such delicious cakes that my mouth is watering and I just can't wait to visit him tonight.

Avoid the word “yuck.”

A situation may arise when you don’t really like the taste of some food. But you probably won't be able to just exclaim "Yuck!" (an informal English word, analogous to our “Ugh!”), without offending the cook or the owners.
So how can you say it without sounding impolite?

7. This is too for me/for my taste

This is a polite way to explain that you don't like the food without blaming the cook. It's just not to your taste. It's even better if you can throw in some kind of compliment first.

This cake is so creamy! It's just too sweet for my taste.
This brownie is so creamy! It's just too sweet for my taste.

8. It could use a little more/less…

Use this expression to say that a dish would taste better if it had different seasonings.

This chicken is too spicy. It could use a little less chili sauce.
This chicken is too spicy. Could have used a little less chilli sauce.

9. This tastes different. I think I prefer

If a dish tastes new or unfamiliar to you, you can politely name some other food that you prefer or like better.

This tiramisu tastes different. I think I prefer the chocolate cake.
This tiramisu has an unusual taste. I think I'll prefer chocolate cake.

What is your diet (diet)?

10. Vegetarian

If you are a vegetarian and do not eat meat, your diet includes only vegetables, fruits and foods such as tofu, nuts, grains, etc.

I’ve been a vegetarian for a year and I don’t even miss eating meat at all.
I've been vegetarian for a year and don't even miss eating meat at all.

11. Trying to lose weight

Lose weight, lose weight.

I usually just have a salad for lunch because I’m trying to lose weight.
I usually only have salad for lunch because I'm trying to lose weight.

12. Low-carb diet

The word “carb” is short for carbohydrates. A low-carb diet means eating fewer carbohydrate foods, such as bread, pancakes and cookies.

That strawberry muffin looks tempting, but I’m on a low-carb diet.
This strawberry muffin looks tempting, but I'm on a low carb diet.

13. A balanced diet

Most people simply try to eat a balanced diet that includes all the major food groups, such as grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy products and meat.

To stay healthy, I go to the gym, cycle to work and eat a balanced diet.
To stay healthy, I go to the gym, bike to work and eat a balanced diet.

What do you usually eat?

This is one of the most common questions that people ask each other, and they are always interested in hearing the answer.

14. Fast food

Fast food is food that is prepared very quickly and served at the counter in restaurants, such as McDonald's. Typically these include hamburgers or sandwiches, French fries and soda.

When I'm busy with school, I usually eat fast food.
When I'm busy at school, I usually eat fast food.

15. Home-cooked meal

Home-cooked food is something many of us would love to see when we get home from school or work. These are fresh meals prepared and eaten at home.

Whenever I get home early from work, I make myself a nice home-cooked meal.
Whenever I get home from work early, I cook myself a delicious home-cooked meal.

16. One-pot meal

You cook all the ingredients of a dish, such as meat and vegetables, in one communal pan (or pot) and eat it right away.

If I'm too tired to cook, I just make a quick and easy one-pot meal.
If I'm too tired to cook, I just make a quick and easy meal by mixing all the ingredients in one bowl.

17. Dessert

Dessert is a sweet dish, such as cake or ice cream, that is served at the end of a meal.

My grandma makes amazing cakes pies and cookies. I always look forward to dessert when I go to her house.
My grandmother makes wonderful cakes, pies and cookies. I always look forward to dessert when I visit her.

18. To have a sweet tooth

Do you like sweets? So you have a sweet tooth.

I’ll admit I have a sweet tooth because I can never say no to cakes, pastries and ice cream.
I admit that I have a sweet tooth because I can never say no to cakes and ice cream.

19. To eat healthy

It's quite simple. “To eat healthy” means that you choose food that is good for your health.

No matter how busy I am, I try to eat healthy and exercise every day.
No matter how busy I am, I try to eat healthy and exercise every day.

Which chicken do you prefer?

20. Fried or deep-fried

Fried chicken is prepared by frying it in hot oil. Often the fried chicken we order at restaurants is actually deep-fried.
So what's the difference between fried chicken and deep-fried chicken? Deep frying uses much more oil than frying.

I can’t think of anything I like better than fried chicken, can you?
I can't think of anything I love more than fried chicken, can you?

21.Grilled

Grilled chicken is cooked directly on a hot grill.

I think I’ll invite my friends over for some grilled chicken this weekend.
I think I'll invite my friends over for grilled chicken this weekend.

22. Crunchy

If you fry the chicken well, it will develop a fried crust and become crispy.

That fried chicken I had for lunch was so crunchy and yummy I just can’t stop thinking about it.
That fried chicken I had for lunch was so crispy and delicious that I just can't stop thinking about it.

What kind of eggs do you prefer?

23. Scrambled

Scrambled eggs, which are prepared by stirring eggs in a frying pan.

I usually make scrambled eggs for breakfast because they’re so easy.
I usually make scrambled eggs for breakfast because it's easy.

24. Poached

Poached eggs are made by partially boiling the eggs in boiling water. When served, the egg whites will be soft and the yolk will still be visible.

I’ve never had a poached egg but I’d sure like to try it.
I've never had a poached egg, but I'd like to try it.

25. Sunny-side up

Egg, fried on one side only. It has this name because, when cooked, the yolk remains intact and is located in the center of the scrambled egg, which makes it look like the sun.

The only way my son will eat eggs is if I make them sunny-side up. He likes to see the yellow yolk!
The only cooking method that will get my son to eat the eggs is if I only fry them on one side. He loves seeing the yolk!

We hope that you learned some useful new vocabulary today and that it will increase your confidence when discussing food in English. Remember that the more you practice, the more natural your English will become.