Spanish word

banderilla

Pronunciation

IPA/bandeˈɾiʝa/

Meaning

  • feminine nountapas skewer

Example

En el bar pedimos unas banderillas con aceitunas y pepinillos.

At the bar we ordered some tapas skewers with olives and pickles.

Illustration for banderilla (tapas skewer)

More examples

Las banderillas suelen servirse como tapa en muchas ciudades.

Tapas skewers are often served as a tapa in many cities.

Core concept

Colorful one-bite skewer of olives, pickles and other small bites.

Common phrases

  • pincho con banderillas

    pincho with tapas skewers

  • bandeja de banderillas

    platter of tapas skewers

  • banderillas variadas

    assorted tapas skewers

Similar words

tapa: Small savory portion presented on a small plate to accompany a drink.
pincho: Small bite served on a piece of bread or stuck on a skewer, eaten in one mouthful.
montadito: Small open sandwich built on a thin slice of bread and eaten by hand.
brocheta: Grilled skewered pieces of meat or vegetables served as a barbecue-style dish.

Definition in Spanish

Brocheta corta y decorativa que se sirve como tapa en bares, compuesta por aceitunas, pepinillos u otros bocados para comer de un solo bocado.

Word origin

Derives from Spanish bandera "flag" plus the diminutive -illa, and the term originally named small barbed spears in bullfighting before shifting to short decorative skewers for food.

Usage tips

  • In bars banderillas usually means marinated or pickled bites on a short stick, so name the toppings (for example con aceitunas y pepinillos) to make the order clear.

Other meanings

  • banderillanoun

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