Bread
A small bread roll. Use this when you want an individual-sized piece of bread.
Sliced bread, like for sandwiches. 'Molde' means 'mold' or 'tin'.
Toast. This refers to a slice of bread that has been toasted.
A type of crusty, football-shaped bread roll, very common in Mexico.
I want bread, please.
In the morning, I eat a piece of toast with coffee.
Do we need to buy sliced bread for the sandwiches?
At the bakery, they sell very tasty bread rolls.
The word 'pan' is universally understood for 'bread' across the entire Spanish-speaking world. The variations appear in the names for specific types of bread, especially rolls.
A crusty bread roll is a 'bolillo' or 'telera'. These are essential for making 'tortas' (sandwiches).
Common types include 'pan francés' (similar to a baguette), 'mogolla' (a soft, often slightly sweet roll), and 'pan de bono' (a cheese bread).
A standard loaf is often called 'pan francés'. Small bread rolls are 'figacitas'. Pastries, often sold with bread, are called 'facturas'.
The most popular bread roll is the 'marraqueta', also called 'pan batido' in some regions.
A baguette is a 'barra de pan'. A sandwich on a 'barra' is a 'bocadillo', while a sandwich on 'pan de molde' (sliced bread) is just a 'sándwich'.
Pronouncing 'pan' like the English word 'pan'. — The 'a' in Spanish 'pan' sounds like the 'a' in 'father'. It's a short, open 'ah' sound: 'pahn'.
Using the wrong gender: 'la pan' or 'una pan'. — 'Pan' is a masculine noun. Always use masculine articles like 'el pan' (the bread) or 'un pan' (a bread/a loaf of bread).
Using 'pan' when you specifically want toast. — If you want toasted bread, ask for 'una tostada'. Asking for 'pan' in a café will likely get you a plain, untoasted bread roll.
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