Spanish word

flan

Pronunciation

IPA/flan/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncustard

Example

Traje un flan para el postre.

I brought a custard for dessert.

Illustration for flan (custard)

More examples

¿Quieres probar este flan casero?

Do you want to try this homemade custard?

Core concept

Silky baked milk-and-egg custard topped with runny caramel.

Common phrases

  • flan casero

    homemade custard

  • flan de huevo

    egg custard

  • flan de vainilla

    vanilla custard

Similar words

postre: Sweet course served after a meal.
pudín: Dense baked or steamed milk-and-egg dessert that sets firm.
natilla: Warm, gently thickened milk-and-egg custard with a smooth, pourable texture.
crema: Rich, smooth cream-based sweet with a thick, velvety texture.

Definition in Spanish

Postre de textura suave preparado con leche y huevos y cubierto por caramelo líquido.

Word origin

From Old French flan, ultimately from the Germanic root *flado 'flat', originally the name of a flat cake and later applied to the molded egg-and-milk dessert.

Usage tips

  • When ordering flan in Spain, ask '¿Es casero?' to know if it is homemade and '¿Es muy dulce?' to check sweetness, because regional and shop preparations vary.

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