paella: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to Informal
Quick answer
What does “paella” mean?
A Spanish dish of rice, saffron, chicken, seafood, and vegetables, cooked and served in a large shallow pan.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Spanish dish of rice, saffron, chicken, seafood, and vegetables, cooked and served in a large shallow pan.
Can refer to the pan itself or to an event/social gathering centered around eating this dish.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the word identically. Pronunciation differs.
Connotations
Connotations are similar: evokes Spanish cuisine, holidays, and social dining.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English due to proximity and tourism to Spain.
Grammar
How to Use “paella” in a Sentence
[verb] + paella (eat, make, order, serve)[adjective] + paella (authentic, delicious, homemade)paella + [prepositional phrase] (paella with seafood, paella for dinner)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May appear in restaurant, tourism, or food import/export contexts.
Academic
Rare. Could appear in cultural, anthropological, or culinary studies texts.
Everyday
Common in contexts discussing food, travel, cooking, and social events.
Technical
Used in professional culinary contexts with specifications on ingredients and technique.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “paella”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “paella”
- Spelling: 'paeilla' (extra 'i'), 'pella'.
- Pronunciation: Stressing the first syllable (PAY-la) instead of the second (pa-EH-la/pah-AY-ya).
- Using 'paella' to refer to any rice dish.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily the dish. The pan is properly called a 'paellera' or 'paella pan', though in casual use 'paella' can refer to both.
Short-grain rice (like Bomba or Calasparra) is essential. Saffron gives the characteristic yellow colour and flavour, and the socarrat (crispy bottom layer) is a key textural element.
Traditional versions have specific combinations (e.g., Valencian uses chicken, rabbit, snails, beans). Modern and regional variations are flexible, but purists argue for authenticity. Seafood paella is a common variant.
UK English often adapts loanwords to fit English phonotactics (/aɪˈɛlə/), while US English attempts a closer approximation to the Spanish original (/pɑːˈeɪjə/), though neither is fully native Spanish (/paˈeʎa/).
A Spanish dish of rice, saffron, chicken, seafood, and vegetables, cooked and served in a large shallow pan.
Paella is usually neutral to informal in register.
Paella: in British English it is pronounced /paɪˈɛlə/, and in American English it is pronounced /pɑːˈeɪjə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: "PAElla is a PAn dish you make for your pALs."
Conceptual Metaphor
"A MELTING POT" – paella combines diverse ingredients into a single harmonious dish, similar to a cultural blend.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate description of paella?