Learning New Food Vocabulary

Speaking about food is probably one of the most common activities for any English learner.
To start off, learn food vocabulary (1) related to different types of food, ways of preparing
food, shopping and more. If you work in the food service industry, you'll also want to learn
food service vocabulary(2). Practice using food vocabulary with restaurant role-plays
(4) and writing out recipes in English(3). Finally, here is a ESL food lesson (5) for
teachers that ties all of the related vocabulary together.

1.-Food Vocabulary

Eating and enjoying a meal together gives you the opportunity to speak English and enjoy
yourself. The relaxing atmosphere of sharing a meal together helps the conversation flow.
Cooking and shopping for the food to prepare the meal is English is almost as much fun.
There are many words you need to learn in order to speak about food, purchase food, cook
food and more. This guide to food vocabulary will help you express not only different types of
food, but also how you prepare and cook them, and what sort of food containers there are
when you go shopping.

A good way to learn food vocabulary is to create a vocabulary tree, or vocabulary chart
(1.1). Start at the center or the top of a page with a category such as "types of food" and
link to different categories of food, under these categories write down the individual types of
food. Once you understand the different types of food, increase your vocabulary moving on
to related subjects. Here are some suggestions:

 Types of Food
 Adjectives for describing food
 Verbs for cooking
 Vocabulary for Supermarket

In order to help you begin, I've started food vocabulary lists for you below. These lists are
just the beginning. Copy the words onto a sheet of paper and continue to add to the list.
Give yourself lots of room so you can continue to add to the food vocabulary lists as you
learn new words. Soon you'll be able to speak about food and join in the conversation about
cooking, eating and shopping with ease.

Teachers can also feel free to take these charts and print them out for use in class as a food
vocabulary exercise to help students begin conversations about food. Combine these with
exercises and activities such as restaurant role-plays, recipe writing activities, etc.

Types of Food

Beverages / Drinks soda coffee water tea wine beer juice

Dairy milk cheese butter cream yoghurt quark half and half
Dessert cake cookies chocolate ice-cream brownies pie creams
Fruit apple orange banana grapes pineapple kiwi lemon
Grains / Starches wheat rye cereal toast bread roll potato
Meat / Fish beef chicken pork salmon trout lamb buffalo
Vegetables beans lettuce carrots broccoli cauliflower peas egg plan

Adjectives used to Describe Food

acidic
bland
creamy
fatty
fruity
healthy
nutty
oily
raw
salty
sharp
sour
spicy
sweet
tender
tough

Cooking Food

Vocabulary for the Supermarket

Preparing Food Cooking Food Utensils

chop bake blender
peel fry frying pan
mix steam colander
slice boil kettle
measure simmer pot

Departments Staff Nouns Verbs

dairy stock clerk aisle push a cart
produce manager counter reach for something
dairy butcher cart compare products
frozen food fishmonger display scan items

Containers for Food

bag sugar flour

box cereal crackers
carton eggs milk
can soup beans
jar jam mustard
package hamburgers noodles
piece toast fish
bottle wine beer
bar soap chocolate

Suggestions for Exercises

Once you have written out your vocabulary lists, start practicing using the vocabulary in
conversation and writing. Here are some suggestions on how to practice food vocabulary:

 Make a shopping list and compare products

 Write a recipe in English, be sure to include ingredients, measurements, containers
and instructions
 Describe a delicious meal you've had in writing
 Discuss your food likes and dislikes with a partner

Practicing your food vocabulary will help you become fluent in the one subject that
EVERYONE in the world loves to discuss: food and eating. No matter which culture or
country, food is a safe subject that will help lead to conversation about other topics. Try
asking someone about their favorite meal and you'll find that you are in a discussion about
cooking your favorite foods. Recommend a restaurant and tell someone about a special meal
you've had, and the conversation will flow.