Spanish word

calamar

Pronunciation

IPA/kalaˈmaɾ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounsquid

Example

¿Te gusta el calamar?

Do you like squid?

Illustration for calamar (squid)

More examples

Prefiero la ración de calamar antes que otras tapas.

I prefer the plate of squid to other tapas.

Core concept

Cephalopod that uses arms and tentacles for catching prey and can expel ink.

Common phrases

  • calamar frito

    fried calamari

  • ración de calamar

    plate of squid

  • calamar fresco

    fresh squid

Similar words

pulpo: Large cephalopod with eight muscular, sucker-lined arms that lives on rocky sea floors.
sepia: Flat-bodied cephalopod with soft, tender flesh and an ink sac, often sold as seafood.

Definition in Spanish

Molusco marino cefalópodo con brazos y a veces tentáculos largos, capaz de expulsar tinta y frecuentemente consumido como alimento.

Word origin

Calamar derives from Italian calamaro, via Latin calamarius from Greek kalamos 'reed', referring to its reedlike shape rather than any unrelated root.

Usage tips

  • English menus often use the Italian plural 'calamari', but in Spanish the normal plural is 'calamares', so expect that word on Spanish menus.

Related words

  • calamaritolittle squidnoun

Word lists with this word