Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
PAPRIKA in Spanish: PIMENTÓN
Pimentón · noun · pee-men-TOHN
Paprika translates to pimentón in Spanish, referring to the ground spice made from dried peppers. However, this word carries a significant regional twist: in Spain, pimentón specifically means the powdered spice (sweet, bittersweet, or hot), while in several South American countries—particularly Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay—pimentón refers to a fresh bell pepper. This dual meaning makes context essential when using the word in conversation or while reading a recipe from a different region.
pee-men-TOHN
Añade una cucharadita de pimentón a la salsa para darle color.
Add a teaspoon of paprika to the sauce to give it color.
Paprika in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for paprika, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| pimentón | paprika | pee-men-TOHN | Default, widely understood |
| paprika | paprika | some Latin American countries (borrowed) | |
| pimentón dulce | paprika | Spain (sweet variety) |
How Native Speakers Use Pimentón
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Cooking with spices
El pimentón de la Vera tiene un sabor ahumado muy particular.
Pimentón de la Vera has a very distinctive smoky flavor.
La Vera is a region in Extremadura, Spain, famous for its smoked paprika.
At a grocery store in Argentina
Necesito comprar un pimentón rojo para la ensalada.
I need to buy a red bell pepper for the salad.
In Argentina, pimentón refers to a fresh bell pepper, not the dried spice.
Following a recipe
Espolvorea pimentón dulce sobre las patatas antes de hornearlas.
Sprinkle sweet paprika over the potatoes before baking them.
Pimentón dulce specifies the sweet variety, as opposed to picante (hot).
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Pimentón
Regional confusion
Incorrect: Pon pimentón en la ensalada. (intending the spice in Argentina)
Correct: Pon paprika / pimentón en polvo en la ensalada.
In Argentina and Chile, saying pimentón without clarification would be understood as a fresh bell pepper, so specifying en polvo (powdered) or using paprika avoids confusion.
Confusing pimiento and pimentón
Incorrect: Compra pimiento para la paella. (meaning paprika)
Correct: Compra pimentón para la paella.
In Spain, pimiento is a fresh pepper while pimentón is the dried ground spice. Mixing them up changes the ingredient entirely.
Lock in Paprika Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Pimentón used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Paprika in Spanish
- What is pimentón de la Vera?
- Pimentón de la Vera is a protected-origin smoked paprika produced in the La Vera valley of Extremadura, Spain. The peppers are dried over oak wood fires, which gives the spice its signature smoky flavor. It comes in three heat levels: dulce (sweet), agridulce (bittersweet), and picante (hot).
- Does pimentón mean the same thing everywhere in Spanish?
- Not at all—this is one of the trickiest food terms in Spanish. In Spain, pimentón always refers to the dried, ground spice. In Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, pimentón typically means a fresh bell pepper. When following a recipe, knowing the origin of the author helps you interpret the ingredient correctly.
- How do you say smoked paprika in Spanish?
- The most common way is pimentón ahumado, combining pimentón (paprika) with ahumado (smoked). In Spain, you can also simply ask for pimentón de la Vera, since that region's product is inherently smoked. Outside Spain, pimentón ahumado is the clearest option.