Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Wings in Spanish: Alas
Alas · noun · AH-lahs
The English word 'wings' translates to alas in Spanish, the plural of ala (wing). In food contexts, chicken wings are commonly called alitas de pollo, using the affectionate diminutive form. The word also describes the wings of birds, planes, and buildings.
Say AH-lahs with the stress on the first syllable. The singular form ala is pronounced AH-lah.
Pedimos alitas de pollo con salsa picante.
We ordered chicken wings with hot sauce.
Wings in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for wings, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| alas | wings | AH-lahs | Default, widely understood |
| alitas | wings | diminutive, often used for chicken wings |
How Native Speakers Use Alas
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Ordering food
¿Tienen alitas de pollo en el menú?
Do you have chicken wings on the menu?
Asking about available dishes at a restaurant.
Describing a bird
El águila extendió sus alas y voló hacia las montañas.
The eagle spread its wings and flew toward the mountains.
Narrating a nature scene.
Figurative use
Sus palabras me dieron alas para seguir adelante.
Her words gave me wings to keep going.
Using wings metaphorically to express encouragement.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Alas
Wrong article with ala
Incorrect: La ala del avión está dañada.
Correct: El ala del avión está dañada.
Although ala is feminine, it takes the masculine article el in the singular because it starts with a stressed 'a' sound. The plural uses las: las alas.
Using alas for chicken wings on a menu
Incorrect: Quiero alas de pollo fritas.
Correct: Quiero alitas de pollo fritas.
In most restaurants and food contexts, the diminutive alitas is standard for chicken wings, not the plain form alas.
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See Alas used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Wings in Spanish
- How do you say 'wings' in Spanish?
- Wings translates to alas in Spanish (singular: ala), and chicken wings specifically are called alitas de pollo using the diminutive form.
- Why does ala use the article 'el' instead of 'la'?
- Feminine nouns starting with a stressed 'a' or 'ha' sound take the article el in the singular to avoid an awkward double-a sound, so it is el ala, not la ala, even though the noun remains feminine.
- Is alitas only used for chicken wings?
- Alitas is predominantly used for chicken wings in culinary contexts, though technically it is the diminutive of alas and could refer to any small wings.