Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Cornish Hen in Spanish: Gallina de Cornualles

Gallina de Cornualles · noun · gah-YEE-nah deh kohr-noo-AH-yehs

Gallina de Cornualles is the Spanish translation for Cornish hen, a small breed of chicken typically weighing about one to two pounds, often roasted whole for individual servings.

gah-YEE-nah deh kohr-noo-AH-yehs

Preparé gallina de Cornualles al horno con hierbas frescas.

I prepared roasted Cornish hen with fresh herbs.

Cornish Hen in Spanish: Quick Reference

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

SpanishEnglishPronunciationRegion / Register
gallina de Cornuallescornish hengah-YEE-nah deh kohr-noo-AH-yehsDefault, widely understood
pollito de Cornuallescornish henemphasizing the small size
pollo cornishcornish henanglicism used in some grocery stores

How Native Speakers Use Gallina de Cornualles

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

Holiday dinner

Para la cena de Navidad, cada invitado tendrá su propia gallina de Cornualles.

For Christmas dinner, each guest will have their own Cornish hen.

Planning an elegant holiday meal.

Grocery shopping

Encontré gallinas de Cornualles congeladas en el supermercado.

I found frozen Cornish hens at the supermarket.

Discovering a product while shopping.

Recipe

Marina la gallina de Cornualles con limón y ajo durante la noche.

Marinate the Cornish hen with lemon and garlic overnight.

Sharing a cooking preparation tip.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Gallina de Cornualles

Using pollo for Cornish hen

Incorrect: Hice pollo individual para cada persona.

Correct: Hice gallina de Cornualles para cada persona.

Pollo means chicken in general; gallina de Cornualles specifically refers to the small Cornish hen breed that is distinct from regular chicken.

Misspelling Cornualles

Incorrect: Compré una gallina de Cornwall.

Correct: Compré una gallina de Cornualles.

The Spanish name for Cornwall is Cornualles, not the English spelling — use the hispanicized form.

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See Gallina de Cornualles used by native speakers

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Common Questions About Cornish Hen in Spanish

How do you say 'Cornish hen' in Spanish?
The standard translation is gallina de Cornualles, though in some grocery stores and recipes you may see the anglicism pollo cornish used informally.
What is the difference between gallina and pollo?
Pollo generally refers to chicken meat or a young chicken, while gallina refers to a hen (adult female chicken) — gallina de Cornualles uses gallina because the breed name traditionally includes 'hen.'
How is Cornish hen typically cooked?
Cornish hens are most commonly roasted whole in the oven with herbs and citrus, often served as individual portions for elegant dinners and holiday meals.