Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate
How to Say Gizzards in Spanish: Mollejas & Regional Variants
Mollejas · noun (feminine, plural) · moh-YEH-hahs
Gizzards in Spanish are called mollejas, referring to the muscular part of a bird's digestive tract. In Argentina, mollejas can also refer to sweetbreads (thymus gland), so context and country matter. The broader term menudencias covers all giblets.
moh-YEH-hahs — the ll produces a 'y' sound in most dialects. Stress falls on the second-to-last syllable.
Las mollejas de pollo quedan deliciosas a la parrilla.
Chicken gizzards are delicious on the grill.
Gizzards in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for gizzards, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| mollejas | gizzards | moh-YEH-hahs | Default, widely understood |
| molleja | gizzards | singular form | |
| menudencias | gizzards | general term for giblets including gizzards |
How Native Speakers Use Mollejas
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Cooking gizzards
Voy a preparar mollejas de pollo con arroz.
I'm going to prepare chicken gizzards with rice.
Mollejas de pollo specifies poultry gizzards, the most common culinary use.
At a market
¿Tiene mollejas frescas hoy?
Do you have fresh gizzards today?
At butcher shops and markets, mollejas are sold alongside other organ meats.
Referring to giblets generally
Las menudencias incluyen el hígado, el corazón y las mollejas.
The giblets include the liver, heart, and gizzards.
Menudencias is the umbrella term for all edible internal organs of poultry.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Mollejas
Confusing mollejas (gizzards) with mollejas (sweetbreads) in Argentina
Incorrect: Pedí mollejas a la parrilla esperando pollo. (in Argentina)
Correct: Pedí mollejas de pollo a la parrilla. (specify pollo)
In Argentina, mollejas without qualification usually means sweetbreads (thymus). Specify de pollo if you want poultry gizzards.
Using the singular when referring to a dish
Incorrect: Comí molleja anoche.
Correct: Comí mollejas anoche.
Gizzards are almost always referred to in the plural (mollejas) when discussing them as food, since they are served in portions.
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Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Mollejas used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Gizzards in Spanish
- How do you say gizzards in Spanish?
- Gizzards in Spanish is mollejas. The term refers to the muscular stomach lining of poultry and is widely used in Latin American cuisine.
- Is molleja the same as sweetbreads?
- Regional usage varies significantly — in Argentina and Uruguay, molleja primarily means sweetbreads (thymus gland of beef). In Mexico, Central America, and Spain, mollejas typically refers to chicken gizzards.
- What are menudencias?
- Menudencias is the collective Spanish term for giblets — all the edible internal organs of poultry, including the gizzard (molleja), liver (hígado), and heart (corazón).