Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Clam Chowder in Spanish: Sopa de almejas

Sopa de almejas · noun · SOH-pah deh ahl-MEH-hahs

Sopa de almejas is the Spanish translation for clam chowder, a thick, creamy soup made with clams, potatoes, onions, and sometimes bacon or salt pork.

SOH-pah deh ahl-MEH-hahs

Pedí una sopa de almejas bien caliente para el almuerzo.

I ordered a piping hot clam chowder for lunch.

Clam Chowder in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for clam chowder, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

SpanishEnglishPronunciationRegion / Register
sopa de almejasclam chowderSOH-pah deh ahl-MEH-hahsDefault, widely understood
crema de almejasclam chowderemphasizing the creamy New England style
chowder de almejasclam chowderanglicism used in some tourist areas

How Native Speakers Use Sopa de almejas

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

Restaurant order

La sopa de almejas es la especialidad de este restaurante costero.

The clam chowder is the specialty of this coastal restaurant.

Recommending a dish at a seafood restaurant.

Recipe discussion

Para hacer una buena sopa de almejas necesitas almejas frescas y papas.

To make good clam chowder you need fresh clams and potatoes.

Discussing recipe ingredients.

Describing taste

Esta crema de almejas tiene un sabor ahumado delicioso.

This clam chowder has a delicious smoky flavor.

Complimenting a dish while eating.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Sopa de almejas

Using sopa de conchas

Incorrect: Quiero una sopa de conchas.

Correct: Quiero una sopa de almejas.

Conchas means shells (or a type of sweet bread in Mexico); almejas specifically means clams and is the correct ingredient noun.

Saying chowder in Spanish

Incorrect: Pedí un chowder de almejas.

Correct: Pedí una sopa de almejas.

While chowder may be understood in tourist areas, sopa de almejas or crema de almejas is the proper descriptive Spanish translation.

Lock in Clam Chowder 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 Sopa de almejas used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using sopa de almejas in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Pedí una sopa de almejas bien caliente para el almuerzo. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

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Common Questions About Clam Chowder in Spanish

How do you say 'clam chowder' in Spanish?
The standard translation is sopa de almejas, or crema de almejas if you want to emphasize the creamy, New England-style preparation.
What are almejas?
Almejas are clams — bivalve mollusks harvested from the sea, used in soups, pastas, and seafood dishes across Spanish-speaking coastal regions.
Is clam chowder popular in Spanish-speaking countries?
While clam chowder is primarily an American dish, Spanish-speaking coastal regions have their own clam-based soups, and sopa de almejas appears on menus at international and seafood restaurants.