Food & Beverage Vocabulary in English

Enhance your everyday English with Food & Beverage Vocabulary in English. Learn essential words for meals, ingredients, drinks, cooking, and ordering food. Perfect for beginners and travelers, this set helps you communicate naturally and confidently in restaurants and daily situations.

Talking about meals, ingredients, flavors, and cooking becomes much easier when you build a strong food-related vocabulary. GuruLango’s Spaced Repetition technique helps you remember these practical words naturally and retain them long term.

Below is a curated preview from GuruLango’s Food & Beverage in English vocabulary collection.

1. Food

These basic food words help you describe everyday eating situations clearly.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

food

fuːd

anything edible

ingredient

ɪnˈɡriː.di.ənt

item used in cooking

cuisine

kwɪˈziːn

style of cooking

meal

miːl

eating occasion

snack

snæk

small quick food

dish

dɪʃ

prepared food

menu

ˈmen.juː

list of dishes

leftovers

ˈleftˌəʊ.vərz

uneaten food

serving

ˈsɜː.vɪŋ

portion of food

appetizer

ˈæp.ɪ.taɪ.zər

starter dish

 

2. Meal

These words help you talk naturally about different meals throughout the day.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

breakfast

ˈbrek.fəst

morning meal

lunch

lʌntʃ

midday meal

dinner

ˈdɪn.ər

evening meal

brunch

brʌntʃ

late breakfast

supper

ˈsʌp.ər

light evening meal

buffet

ˈbʊf.eɪ

self-serve meal

feast

fiːst

large celebration meal

course

kɔːs

part of a meal

set menu

set ˈmen.juː

fixed-price meal

tasting menu

ˈteɪstɪŋ ˈmen.juː

multiple small courses

3. Meat

Learn essential meat vocabulary to discuss dishes, menus, or cooking choices.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

beef

biːf

meat from cow

pork

pɔːk

meat from pig

chicken

ˈtʃɪk.ɪn

poultry

lamb

læm

young sheep meat

duck

dʌk

duck meat

turkey

ˈtɜː.ki

turkey meat

bacon

ˈbeɪ.kən

cured pork

sausage

ˈsɔː.sɪdʒ

seasoned meat

ham

hæm

cooked pork

steak

steɪk

thick meat cut

4. Dairy Product

Use these words to describe popular dairy items in meals and desserts.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

milk

mɪlk

dairy liquid

cheese

tʃiːz

solid dairy

butter

ˈbʌt.ər

dairy spread

yogurt

ˈjəʊ.ɡət

fermented milk

cream

kriːm

rich milk

ice cream

aɪs kriːm

frozen dairy

cottage cheese

ˈkɒt.ɪdʒ tʃiːz

curd cheese

sour cream

ˈsaʊər kriːm

tangy cream

milkshake

ˈmɪlk.ʃeɪk

sweet drink

condensed milk

kənˈdenst mɪlk

sweetened thick milk

5. Dishes

These common dish names help you order food or describe meals.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

salad

ˈsæl.əd

mixed vegetables

soup

suːp

liquid dish

pasta

ˈpæs.tə

noodle dish

sandwich

ˈsænd.wɪtʃ

bread + filling

pizza

ˈpiːt.sə

baked flatbread

curry

ˈkʌr.i

spiced dish

stew

stjuː

slow-cooked dish

noodles

ˈnuː.dəlz

long dough strips

fried rice

fraɪd raɪs

stir-fried rice

omelet

ˈɒm.lət

cooked eggs

6. Seafood

These seafood terms help you identify popular ocean-based ingredients.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

fish

fɪʃ

aquatic animal

shrimp

ʃrɪmp

small shellfish

crab

kræb

crustacean

lobster

ˈlɒb.stər

large crustacean

squid

skwɪd

sea creature

octopus

ˈɒk.tə.pəs

tentacled creature

salmon

ˈsæm.ən

pink fish

tuna

ˈtuː.nə

firm fish

mussel

ˈmʌs.əl

shellfish

oyster

ˈɔɪ.stər

sea mollusk

7. Fruit

These fruit names help you talk about snacks, juices, and healthy eating.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

apple

ˈæp.əl

round fruit

banana

bəˈnɑː.nə

long yellow fruit

orange

ˈɒr.ɪndʒ

citrus fruit

mango

ˈmæŋ.ɡəʊ

tropical fruit

grape

ɡreɪp

small fruit

pineapple

ˈpaɪnˌæp.əl

tropical fruit

strawberry

ˈstrɔː.bər.i

red berry

watermelon

ˈwɔː.təˌmel.ən

large juicy fruit

kiwi

ˈkiː.wiː

small green fruit

peach

piːtʃ

soft sweet fruit

8. Vegetables

These vegetable names help you describe meals, groceries, and cooking.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

carrot

ˈkær.ət

orange root

potato

pəˈteɪ.təʊ

starchy root

tomato

təˈmɑː.təʊ

red vegetable

onion

ˈʌn.jən

layered vegetable

broccoli

ˈbrɒk.əl.i

green vegetable

spinach

ˈspɪn.ɪtʃ

leafy green

cucumber

ˈkjuː.kʌm.bər

long green vegetable

lettuce

ˈlet.ɪs

salad leaves

corn

kɔːn

yellow kernels

pepper

ˈpep.ər

spicy/sweet pod

9. Dessert

Use these dessert words to talk about sweets, bakeries, and cravings.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

cake

keɪk

baked sweet

cookie

ˈkʊk.i

small snack

chocolate

ˈtʃɒk.lət

cocoa sweet

pudding

ˈpʊd.ɪŋ

soft dessert

pie

paɪ

baked pastry

donut

ˈdəʊ.nʌt

fried sweet

brownie

ˈbraʊ.ni

chocolate bar

ice cream

aɪs kriːm

frozen dessert

tart

tɑːt

pastry with filling

macarons

ˌmæk.əˈrɒnz

French sweet

10. Taste & Flavor

These adjectives help you describe food flavor precisely and naturally.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

sweet

swiːt

sugary flavor

salty

ˈsɒl.ti

with salt

sour

saʊər

acidic taste

bitter

ˈbɪt.ər

sharp taste

spicy

ˈspaɪ.si

hot flavor

savory

ˈseɪ.vər.i

rich taste

bland

blænd

lacking flavor

tangy

ˈtæŋ.i

sharp-sour

rich

rɪtʃ

deep flavor

smoky

ˈsməʊ.ki

burnt aroma

11. Texture

These texture words help you describe how food feels when eaten.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

crunchy

ˈkrʌn.tʃi

crisp texture

crispy

ˈkrɪs.pi

fried crisp

soft

sɒft

tender texture

creamy

ˈkriː.mi

smooth texture

chewy

ˈtʃuː.i

requires chewing

tender

ˈten.dər

easy to bite

juicy

ˈdʒuː.si

full of juice

sticky

ˈstɪk.i

adhesive texture

oily

ˈɔɪ.li

greasy

fluffy

ˈflʌf.i

airy texture

12. Drinks

These drink names help you order beverages or talk about daily habits.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

water

ˈwɔː.tər

clear drink

tea

tiː

brewed leaves

coffee

ˈkɒf.i

brewed beans

juice

dʒuːs

fruit drink

soda

ˈsəʊ.də

carbonated drink

milkshake

ˈmɪlk.ʃeɪk

dairy drink

smoothie

ˈsmuː.ði

blended drink

wine

waɪn

fermented grape drink

beer

bɪər

alcoholic drink

cocktail

ˈkɒk.teɪl

mixed drink

13. Spices & Condiments

These seasoning words are essential for describing cooking styles.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

salt

sɒlt

seasoning

pepper

ˈpep.ər

spice

soy sauce

sɔɪ sɔːs

salty sauce

ketchup

ˈketʃ.əp

tomato sauce

mustard

ˈmʌs.təd

yellow condiment

chili powder

ˈtʃɪl.i ˌpaʊ.dər

spicy powder

vinegar

ˈvɪn.ɪ.ɡər

sour liquid

garlic powder

ˈɡɑː.lɪk ˌpaʊ.dər

garlic seasoning

barbecue sauce

ˈbɑː.bɪ.kjuː sɔːs

sweet sauce

mayonnaise

ˈmeɪ.ə.neɪz

creamy condiment

14. Herb & Aroma

These herbs add aroma and depth to dishes in many cuisines.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

basil

ˈbeɪ.zəl

aromatic herb

mint

mɪnt

fresh herb

parsley

ˈpɑː.sli

leafy herb

cilantro

sɪˈlæn.trəʊ

coriander leaves

rosemary

ˈrəʊz.mər.i

strong herb

thyme

taɪm

fragrant herb

dill

dɪl

herb with aroma

lavender

ˈlæv.ən.dər

floral herb

lemongrass

ˈlem.ən.ɡrɑːs

citrus herb

ginger

ˈdʒɪn.dʒər

spicy root

15. Cooking Method

These terms let you describe how a dish is prepared.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

boil

bɔɪl

cook in water

fry

fraɪ

cook in oil

grill

ɡrɪl

cook over heat

steam

stiːm

cook with vapor

roast

rəʊst

cook in oven

bake

beɪk

cook with dry heat

stir-fry

stɜː fraɪ

quick frying

sauté

ˈsəʊ.teɪ

fry lightly

simmer

ˈsɪm.ər

cook gently

marinate

ˈmær.ɪ.neɪt

soak in seasoning

16. Cooking Utensil

These utensils help describe actions and tools used in cooking.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

pan

pæn

shallow cooking tool

pot

pɒt

deep cooking tool

knife

naɪf

cutting tool

cutting board

ˈkʌt.ɪŋ bɔːd

board for chopping

spatula

ˈspætʃ.ʊ.lə

flipping tool

whisk

wɪsk

mixing tool

ladle

ˈleɪ.dəl

serving spoon

oven

ˈʌv.ən

baking appliance

tongs

tɒŋz

gripping tool

measuring cup

ˈmeʒ.ər.ɪŋ kʌp

volume tool

17. Nut

These nut names help you talk about snacks, baking, and ingredients.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

almond

ˈɑː.mənd

edible nut

cashew

ˈkæʃ.uː

kidney-shaped nut

peanut

ˈpiː.nʌt

groundnut

walnut

ˈwɔːl.nʌt

brain-shaped nut

pistachio

pɪˈstæʃ.i.əʊ

green nut

hazelnut

ˈheɪ.zəl.nʌt

round nut

pecan

pɪˈkæn

sweet nut

macadamia

ˌmæk.əˈdeɪ.mi.ə

buttery nut

chestnut

ˈtʃes.nʌt

roasted nut

brazil nut

brəˈzɪl nʌt

large nut

18. In the Restaurant

These restaurant words help you order food and understand menus easily.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

waiter

ˈweɪ.tər

server (male)

waitress

ˈweɪ.trəs

server (female)

bill

bɪl

payment

tip

tɪp

extra money

reservation

ˌrez.əˈveɪ.ʃən

booking

menu

ˈmen.juː

list of dishes

order

ˈɔː.dər

request food

table

ˈteɪ.bəl

dining spot

cutlery

ˈkʌt.lər.i

eating tools

chef

ʃef

professional cook

These Food & Beverage vocabulary sets help you describe meals, cooking techniques, flavors, textures, and restaurant situations clearly in English. With GuruLango’s Spaced Repetition method, you can master these words more effectively and apply them naturally in everyday conversations.

Continue learning with GuruLango and talk about food confidently like a native speaker!