Spanish word

jamón

Pronunciation

IPA/xaˈmon/

Meaning

  • masculine nounham

Example

Voy a comprar jamón para el desayuno.

I am going to buy ham for breakfast.

Illustration for jamón (ham)

More examples

¿Quieres probar una tapa con jamón serrano esta noche?

Do you want to try a tapa with serrano ham tonight?

Core concept

Cured pork leg with serrano and ibérico varieties.

Common phrases

  • bocadillo de jamón

    ham sandwich

  • jamón serrano

    serrano ham

  • sándwich de jamón

    ham sandwich

Similar words

chorizo: Spicy pork sausage of seasoned minced meat stuffed in a casing.
jamón serrano: Traditional Spanish cured ham produced by mountain air-drying.
jamón ibérico: High-end dry-cured ham from Iberian pigs, prized for a rich, nutty flavor.
tocino: Salt-cured or smoked pork belly or back fat used for cooking and flavor.

Definition in Spanish

Producto de cerdo salado y secado, especialmente de la pata, con variedades conocidas como serrano e ibérico.

Word origin

From Old French jambon, ultimately traced to Late Latin gamba 'leg', reflecting that traditional jamón is the preserved hind leg of a pig.

Usage tips

  • Prosciutto is a close Italian counterpart, but jamón ibérico de bellota comes from acorn-fed pigs and has a richer, nutty flavor.

Other meanings

  • prosciuttonoun

Word lists with this word