rodajas,rebanadas

[granca]

Here we go again. My dictionary says they both mean " slice", whats the difference? The recipe says cut the kidneys into rodajas and soak in milk. Then next line says cut the blanched kidneys into rebanadas!!!!
Clap, clap I managed to work out on my own that papines means little potatoes and not baked potatoes in their jackets!

 

[Marianopolita]

granca- excellent question!

Rebanada, rodaja, tajada, and lonja all mean slice in English but in Spanish the distinction is with what you are cutting or slicing (primarily) and then some people use the different words synonymously regardless what they are cutting. Some speakers are more specific than others and stick to the distinctions. However, in general, the words are used freely and some are more common than others, also regional usage is a factor.

For example, rebanada is usually for bread, fruits or even pizza. Rodaja is usually for potatoes, tajada for meat and can be very general in usage. Lonja is the most specific in my opinion in the group of four words for slice that I mentioned above and is used to refer to thicker slices of meat and even cheese. The thickness and thinness of the slice also determines which word to use and there are more words. I only mentioned four common ones.

However, as I mentioned above if you interchange them there's no issue with comprehension. In my opinion, rebanada is the most common and I use it the most when referring to a "slice" of something.


My two "rebanadas" on the topic.


-M@rianoP.

 

[Chip]

Here in the DR rebanada seems to be the most common use for any sliced food other than pizza.

 

[Marianopolita]

one more nuance---

granca,

Just to add for good measure, some people will be very generic with regards to conveying the meaning of a slice if they use "pedazo" (de algo) which is not necessarily a slice but can convey the same meaning. For example, un pedazo de pizza. (Think outside of the DR context since Spanish is spoken widely in several other countries and recipes etc are generic unless printed in the DR).


-M@rianoP.

 

[Chirimoya]

I hear lonja for cheese and cold meats, rebanada for bread, and I think people say trozo as well as pedazo for cake.

 

[Marianopolita]

Recipes - also a good way to learn vocabulary, and verb forms in Spanish----

I think recipes are a good way to learn essential food and culinary vocabulary in Spanish (or any language) as well as learn the command forms of verbs to express the action steps when cooking a meal or dessert etc. In Spanish the recipes usually have the infinitive form of the verb (Cocinar), the usted command verb form (Cocine-formal command) or forms with "SE" (Se cocina).

It's especially helpful because those learning tend to mix up the t? and usted verb forms. As well, one can test their own ability. For example, if you were to give someone instructions how to cook a meal or make a dessert in Spanish would you be able to with the correct verb forms (if you choose to use the conjugated forms) and as well say the portions such as a teaspoon of sugar, a 1/4 cup of milk, etc.? These are ways to make language learning fun while very informal at the same time.

Here is a simple spaghetti recipe from the web:

Ingredientes de la receta:
5 tomates
400g de spaguetti
36 hojas de albahaca
3 dientes de ajo
100g de queso parmesano
5 Cs de aceite de oliva
sal, pimienta

Para preparar la pasta:
1 Cs de aceite de oliva
sal gorda

Receta Spaguetti salsa tomate-albahaca:

Poner a hervir los tomates. Pelarlos y quitar las pepitas.
Cortarlos en peque?os dados.
Echar un poco de sal por encima y dejarlos resposar en un colador durante 15 minutos.

Mientras tanto, lavar y secar con cuidado las hojas de albahaca.
Pelar los dientes de ajo y retirar el centro.
Rallar el queso parmesano.
A?adir los tomates y mazclarlo todo en el robot.

Ponerlo en un recipiente, incorporar poco a poco el aceite de oliva, movi?ndolo regularmente como si fueses a montar la mayonesa.

A?adir sal y pimienta.
Poner agua, con sal y un chorrito de aceite. Una vez haya roto a hervir echar la pasta.
Cuando ya est?n al dente, retirarlas del fuego y colarlas.
Colocarlas r?pidamente en una fuente, echar la salsa por encima y espolvorear con el queso.
Servir en seguida.

Receta Spaguetti salsa tomate-albahaca, nuestra receta Spaguetti salsa tomate-albahaca - enfemenino.com Cocina


-M@rianoP.

 

[granca]

Well at least I understood that recipe without dictionary!! Other than that thanks all for your help.