Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Mussels in Spanish: Mejillones, Choros & Regional Names
Mejillones · noun (masculine, plural) · meh-hee-YOH-nehs
Mussels are mejillones (singular mejillón) in standard Spanish. The word is masculine: el mejillón, los mejillones. In Peru and Chile, choros or choritos are the everyday terms. Mejillones is understood everywhere and is the standard in Spain, Mexico, and most of Latin America.
Mejillones is meh-hee-YOH-nehs, four syllables, stress on YOH. The double l (ll) is pronounced like a y in most dialects. Choros is CHOH-rohs, two syllables.
Pedimos mejillones al vapor con limón y ajo.
We ordered steamed mussels with lemon and garlic.
Mussels in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for mussels, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| mejillones | mussels | meh-hee-YOH-nehs | Default, widely understood |
| choros | mussels | Peru, Chile — local name for mussels | |
| choritos | mussels | Chile — diminutive, very common |
How Native Speakers Use Mejillones
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Restaurant order
Los mejillones a la marinera son la especialidad de esta casa.
The mussels in marinara sauce are the house specialty.
A la marinera is a classic Spanish preparation for mussels in a tomato, onion, and white wine sauce. It differs from Italian marinara.
Chilean market
Compramos un kilo de choritos frescos en la caleta.
We bought a kilo of fresh mussels at the fishing cove.
Choritos is the diminutive form used daily in Chile. Caleta is a small fishing cove or port where fresh seafood is sold.
Cooking at home
Antes de cocinar los mejillones, asegúrate de descartar los que estén abiertos.
Before cooking the mussels, make sure to discard any that are already open.
Descartar means to discard. This is standard food-safety advice given in Spanish-language recipes.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Mejillones
Confusing mejillones with músculos
Incorrect: Quiero comer músculos al vapor.
Correct: Quiero comer mejillones al vapor.
Músculos means muscles (body tissue), not mussels. The English words 'mussels' and 'muscles' sound identical, but Spanish has completely different words for each. Mejillones is the shellfish.
Wrong gender article
Incorrect: Las mejillones están deliciosas.
Correct: Los mejillones están deliciosos.
Mejillón is masculine (el mejillón), so the plural takes los and adjectives must be masculine: deliciosos, not deliciosas.
Lock in Mussels Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Mejillones used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using mejillones in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Pedimos mejillones al vapor con limón y ajo. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Mussels in Spanish
- What is the singular of mejillones?
- The singular is mejillón (el mejillón). In recipes and restaurants, the plural mejillones is far more common since mussels are typically served and sold in groups.
- Why do Chileans say choros instead of mejillones?
- Choros is a regional term deeply embedded in Chilean and Peruvian culinary tradition. It refers to the same mollusk. Choritos is the diminutive form, used affectionately and very frequently in Chile. Both are understood locally but not in Spain or Mexico.
- How do I order mussels in a Spanish restaurant?
- Ask for mejillones. Common preparations include mejillones al vapor (steamed), mejillones a la marinera (in marinara sauce), and mejillones en escabeche (pickled mussels, served as tapas). In Spain, they are a popular tapa.