Is garbanzo a Spanish word that English borrowed?

The English term 'garbanzo bean' comes directly from Spanish, and the word itself entered Spanish from an older Iberian language. In the United States especially, 'garbanzo' is used interchangeably with 'chickpea' on food packaging and restaurant menus.

What is the most famous Spanish dish with garbanzos?

Cocido madrileño is perhaps the most iconic Spanish chickpea dish — a hearty stew from Madrid that combines garbanzos with various meats, vegetables, and noodles. It is traditionally served in multiple courses called 'vuelcos' and is considered comfort food throughout central Spain.

How do you say hummus in Spanish?

Hummus is simply called 'hummus' in Spanish, borrowed directly from Arabic. You might also hear 'puré de garbanzos' (chickpea purée) or 'paté de garbanzos' as descriptive alternatives, especially when the dish is homemade rather than store-bought.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Chick Peas in Spanish: Garbanzos

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Garbanzos · noun · gar-BAHN-sohs

Garbanzos is the Spanish word for chickpeas, the round, beige legumes used extensively in Mediterranean and Latin American cuisine. The word garbanzo has been adopted into English as well, particularly in the United States where 'garbanzo beans' appears on food labels. In Spanish cooking, garbanzos are the star ingredient of cocido madrileño and many other traditional stews.

gar-BAHN-sohs

Los garbanzos son la base del hummus y de muchos guisos españoles.

Chickpeas are the base of hummus and many Spanish stews.

How Native Speakers Use Garbanzos

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Cooking

Hay que remojar los garbanzos toda la noche antes de cocinarlos.

You need to soak the chickpeas all night before cooking them.

Preparing dried legumes.

Restaurant

De primero, quiero el potaje de garbanzos con espinacas.

For my first course, I want the chickpea and spinach stew.

Ordering at a restaurant.

Nutrition

Los garbanzos son una excelente fuente de proteína vegetal.

Chickpeas are an excellent source of plant protein.

Discussing nutritional benefits.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Garbanzos

Adding frijoles

Incorrect: Compré frijoles garbanzos en la tienda.

Correct: Compré garbanzos en la tienda.

Garbanzos stand alone as a noun — they are not a type of 'frijol.' While both are legumes, adding 'frijoles' before 'garbanzos' is redundant and sounds unnatural in Spanish.

Singular when plural needed

Incorrect: Me gusta el garbanzo en la ensalada.

Correct: Me gustan los garbanzos en la ensalada.

Since chickpeas are typically discussed in plural (you rarely eat just one), the plural 'garbanzos' with plural verb agreement is the natural form for most contexts.

Lock in Chick Peas Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Garbanzos used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using garbanzos in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Los garbanzos son la base del hummus y de muchos guisos españoles. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Chick Peas in Spanish

Is garbanzo a Spanish word that English borrowed?: The English term 'garbanzo bean' comes directly from Spanish, and the word itself entered Spanish from an older Iberian language. In the United States especially, 'garbanzo' is used interchangeably with 'chickpea' on food packaging and restaurant menus.
What is the most famous Spanish dish with garbanzos?: Cocido madrileño is perhaps the most iconic Spanish chickpea dish — a hearty stew from Madrid that combines garbanzos with various meats, vegetables, and noodles. It is traditionally served in multiple courses called 'vuelcos' and is considered comfort food throughout central Spain.
How do you say hummus in Spanish?: Hummus is simply called 'hummus' in Spanish, borrowed directly from Arabic. You might also hear 'puré de garbanzos' (chickpea purée) or 'paté de garbanzos' as descriptive alternatives, especially when the dish is homemade rather than store-bought.