Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Grill in Spanish: Parrilla, Asar, and How to Talk About Grilling
Parrilla · noun · pah-RREE-yah
Grill in Spanish is parrilla (the noun — the metal grate or appliance) and asar (the verb — the act of grilling). Food cooked on a grill is a la parrilla, and the person manning the grill is the asador.
Three syllables: pah-RREE-yah. The double-l (ll) sounds like a y in most dialects. For the verb: ah-SAHR.
Vamos a prender la parrilla para la carne.
Let's fire up the grill for the meat.
Grill in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for grill, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| parrilla | grill | pah-RREE-yah | Default, widely understood |
| asar | grill | verb form: to grill or to roast over flame | |
| asador | grill | the grill appliance or the person grilling | |
| a la parrilla | grill | adverbial phrase: grilled (as in cooking method) |
How Native Speakers Use Parrilla
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Talking about cooking equipment
Compramos una parrilla nueva para el patio.
We bought a new grill for the patio.
Parrilla refers to both the standalone appliance and the metal grate inside an oven or barbecue.
Ordering grilled food at a restaurant
Quiero el pollo a la parrilla con ensalada.
I'd like the grilled chicken with salad.
A la parrilla is the standard phrase on menus across the Spanish-speaking world for anything grilled.
Describing the cooking action
Mi papá sabe asar costillas mejor que nadie.
My dad knows how to grill ribs better than anyone.
Asar is the verb for grilling, roasting, or barbecuing over open flame or hot coals.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Parrilla
Using grillar instead of asar
Incorrect: Voy a grillar la carne.
Correct: Voy a asar la carne.
Grillar is a Spanglish invention. The correct Spanish verb for grilling is asar. You might hear grillar in very informal settings in the U.S., but it is not standard.
Confusing parrilla with parrillada
Incorrect: Hicimos una parrilla el domingo. (meaning a barbecue gathering)
Correct: Hicimos una parrillada el domingo.
Parrilla is the physical grill. Parrillada is a barbecue event or a platter of mixed grilled meats. The suffix -ada marks the event or assortment.
Lock in Grill 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 Parrilla used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using parrilla in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Vamos a prender la parrilla para la carne. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Grill in Spanish
- How do you say grill in Spanish?
- The noun is parrilla (pah-RREE-yah) — the cooking grate or appliance. The verb is asar (ah-SAHR) — the act of grilling. Food prepared this way is a la parrilla.
- What is the difference between parrilla and asador?
- Parrilla is the grill itself (the grate or appliance). Asador can mean the person doing the grilling or, in some regions, a large rotisserie or grill setup used for roasting whole animals.
- How do you say barbecue in Spanish?
- A barbecue event is a parrillada in much of Latin America or a barbacoa in Mexico and the Caribbean. The grill used for it is the parrilla.