Spanish word

pota

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈpota/

Meaning

  • feminine nounsquid

Example

En el puerto vendían una pota enorme.

They were selling a huge squid at the harbor.

Illustration for pota (squid)

More examples

Prefiero la pota a la plancha cuando ceno fuera.

I prefer pan-seared squid when I eat out.

Core concept

Narrow-bodied squid species (arrow squid) familiar in Iberian fishing communities.

Common phrases

  • pota a la plancha

    pan-seared squid

  • pota fresca

    fresh squid

Similar words

calamar: Common market squid with tender flesh often sold for frying or cut into rings.
sepia: Cuttlefish with a cuttlebone, distinct chewy texture, and a flavorful ink sac.

Definition in Spanish

Término de uso regional que designa a un calamar de cuerpo alargado, frecuente en la pesca y en las recetas de la península ibérica y regiones atlánticas.

Word origin

Cognate with Portuguese and Galician pota, the term names the arrow-type squid found along the Iberian Atlantic coast.

Usage tips

  • The word is regional rather than general Spanish, so a seller or cook may clarify whether they mean pota specifically or calamar generically.

Other meanings

  • arrow squidnoun

Word lists with this word