Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Flounder in Spanish: Lenguado
Lenguado · noun · lehn-GWAH-doh
Lenguado is the Spanish word for flounder, a popular flatfish served in restaurants across the Spanish-speaking world. The name comes from lengua (tongue), referencing the fish's flat, tongue-like shape. Lenguado a la plancha and lenguado al horno are classic preparations in Spanish cuisine.
Pronounce lenguado as lehn-GWAH-doh, with the stress on the second syllable. The gu before a creates a gw sound.
Pedí lenguado a la plancha con limón.
I ordered grilled flounder with lemon.
Flounder in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for flounder, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| lenguado | flounder | lehn-GWAH-doh | Default, widely understood |
| platija | flounder | some regions — a related flatfish |
How Native Speakers Use Lenguado
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Ordering at a restaurant
El lenguado al horno con papas es la especialidad del chef.
The oven-baked flounder with potatoes is the chef's specialty.
Lenguado al horno (oven-baked flounder) is a classic dish in Spanish coastal restaurants.
At the fish market
Compré dos filetes de lenguado fresco en la pescadería.
I bought two fresh flounder fillets at the fish market.
Pescadería is the name for a fishmonger or fish shop in Spanish.
Describing the fish
El lenguado es un pez plano que vive en el fondo del mar.
Flounder is a flat fish that lives on the sea floor.
Pez plano (flat fish) is the descriptive category for flounder and other flatfish.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Lenguado
Using flounder as a Spanish word
Incorrect: Quiero pedir el flounder, por favor.
Correct: Quiero pedir el lenguado, por favor.
Flounder is not borrowed into Spanish. The correct term is lenguado, and using the English word at a Spanish-speaking restaurant will cause confusion.
Confusing lenguado with lengua
Incorrect: Me comí una lengua frita en el restaurante de mariscos.
Correct: Me comí un lenguado frito en el restaurante de mariscos.
Lengua means tongue (the body part or the meat cut), while lenguado is the flatfish. Ordering lengua at a seafood restaurant would get you tongue, not flounder.
Lock in Flounder 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 Lenguado used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using lenguado in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Pedí lenguado a la plancha con limón. 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 Flounder in Spanish
- How do you say flounder in Spanish?
- Flounder in Spanish is lenguado. The word derives from lengua (tongue) because of the fish's flat, elongated shape. It is the standard term used in both fish markets and restaurants.
- Is lenguado popular in Spanish cuisine?
- Lenguado is highly prized in Spain and Latin American coastal cuisine. Lenguado a la meunière and lenguado a la plancha are classic preparations, and it is considered a delicacy in many Spanish restaurants due to its delicate flavor and tender flesh.
- What is the difference between lenguado and platija?
- Both are flatfish, but lenguado typically refers to sole or flounder of the Soleidae or Paralichthyidae families, while platija often refers to European plaice. In everyday conversation, lenguado is far more commonly used and recognized.