If you love movies or snacks, knowing how to say Popcorn in Spanish is really useful. Whether you’re ordering at a theater, talking about snacks with friends, or shopping at a store, using the right word makes your conversation natural and clear. In this guide, you’ll learn the main Spanish word, how to pronounce it, and how to use it easily in everyday situations.
Learning how to say popcorn in Spanish can be both fun and surprising — because there’s not just one word! Depending on where you are, popcorn can be called palomitas de maíz, pochoclo, rositas, or even canchita.
15 Ways to Say Popcorn in Spanish (with Meaning, Origin & Usage)
This tasty snack has many names across the Spanish-speaking world, and each one tells a small cultural story. Let’s explore the 15 most common ways to say it!
1. Palomitas de maíz – “Little doves of corn”
Meaning: The most common term for popcorn in Spain and Latin America.
Origin: From palomas (doves) — because popped corn looks like tiny white doves.
Example: ¿Quieres palomitas de maíz para la película? — Do you want popcorn for the movie?
Usage: Standard and understood everywhere.
2. Palomitas – “Popcorn” (short form)
Meaning: The short and casual way to say palomitas de maíz.
Example: Vamos a comprar palomitas. — Let’s buy popcorn.
Usage: Very common in Spain and Mexico.
3. Pochoclo – “Popcorn” (Argentina, Uruguay)
Meaning: Popular in the Southern Cone.
Example: Pasame el pochoclo, por favor. — Pass me the popcorn, please.
Usage: Used mainly in Argentina and Uruguay.
4. Canchita – “Popcorn” (Peru)
Meaning: A Peruvian word for popcorn or toasted corn.
Example: En el cine venden canchita dulce o salada. — The cinema sells sweet or salty popcorn.
Usage: Very local to Peru.
5. Rositas de maíz – “Little roses of corn”
Meaning: A poetic and regional term used in Central America.
Example: Compré rositas de maíz para los niños. — I bought popcorn for the kids.
Usage: Used in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala.
6. Crispetas – “Popcorn” (Colombia)
Meaning: The Colombian term for popcorn.
Example: Las crispetas están calientes. — The popcorn is hot.
Usage: Common in Colombia and parts of Venezuela.
7. Cotufas – “Popcorn” (Venezuela)
Meaning: Venezuelan word for popcorn.
Example: En el cine venden cotufas con mantequilla. — The cinema sells popcorn with butter.
Usage: Unique to Venezuela.
8. Pipoca – “Popcorn” (Brazil, Portuguese)
Meaning: Portuguese word for popcorn (if you’re in a bilingual area).
Example: Vamos a comer pipoca durante la película. — Let’s eat popcorn during the movie.
Usage: Used in Brazil; sometimes heard in border regions.
9. Reventadas – “Exploded ones”
Meaning: Colloquial; refers to the “burst” nature of corn.
Example: Haz unas reventadas para ver la tele. — Make some popcorn to watch TV.
Usage: Informal, used regionally.
10. Maíz reventado – “Burst corn”
Meaning: Literal translation, used in some rural areas.
Example: El maíz reventado está listo. — The popcorn is ready.
Usage: Rural, descriptive.
11. Palomas – “Doves”
Meaning: Shortened and affectionate term in Spain.
Example: ¿Quieres unas palomas? — Want some popcorn?
Usage: Cute, informal.
12. Pochoclos dulces – “Sweet popcorn”
Meaning: Caramelized or sugar-coated popcorn.
Example: Prefiero los pochoclos dulces. — I prefer sweet popcorn.
Usage: Argentina, especially for sweet versions.
13. Palomitas saladas – “Salty popcorn”
Meaning: Popcorn with salt instead of sugar.
Example: Trae palomitas saladas para el partido. — Bring salty popcorn for the game.
Usage: Universal; flavor-specific.
14. Poporopos – “Popcorn” (Guatemala)
Meaning: A fun, onomatopoeic term from Guatemala.
Example: Vendían poporopos en la calle. — They were selling popcorn on the street.
Usage: Local and friendly.
15. Canchitas saladas – “Salty popcorn” (Peru)
Meaning: The Peruvian variation emphasizing flavor.
Example: Prefiero las canchitas saladas a las dulces. — I prefer salty popcorn over sweet.
Usage: Peru and nearby regions.
FAQs
1. What is the most common way to say popcorn in Spanish?
👉 Palomitas de maíz is the most common term.
2. How do you say popcorn in Mexico?
👉 Mexicans usually say palomitas.
3. What do Colombians call popcorn?
👉 They call it crispetas.
4. What do Venezuelans say instead of popcorn?
👉 Cotufas.
5. How do you say popcorn in Argentina?
👉 Pochoclo.
6. What’s popcorn in Peru?
👉 Canchita.
7. Is palomitas plural or singular?
👉 It’s plural — las palomitas (the popcorn).
8. How do you order popcorn in Spanish?
👉 Quiero palomitas, por favor. — I’d like popcorn, please.
9. Does “palomitas” literally mean doves?
👉 Yes! Because popped corn resembles tiny white doves.
10. How do you say sweet popcorn in Spanish?
👉 Palomitas dulces or pochoclos dulces.
Conclusion:
Now you know that how to say popcorn in Spanish depends on where you are — from palomitas in Spain to pochoclo in Argentina and crispetas in Colombia. These words not only show linguistic diversity but also cultural flavor! So, the next time you grab a bucket at the movies, you’ll know exactly what to ask for — ¡Quiero palomitas, por favor!
