Word
paella
Phoneticspael·la
UK/paɪˈɛlɐ/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a Spanish rice dish cooked in a wide flat pan, usually with chicken, seafood, and vegetables.
n. a traditional Spanish dish of saffron-flavoured short-grain rice cooked in a wide shallow pan with meat, seafood, or vegetables.
Examples
“We share a large paella with friends on Sundays.”
“The restaurant serves a seafood paella with prawns, mussels, and saffron rice in a traditional wide pan.”
“Prepared over an open fire in Valencia, the authentic paella balances smoky paprika, saffron, and short-grain rice that absorbs the broth without becoming soft.”
Examples
simple
“We share a large paella with friends on Sundays.”
contextual
“The restaurant serves a seafood paella with prawns, mussels, and saffron rice in a traditional wide pan.”
complex
“Prepared over an open fire in Valencia, the authentic paella balances smoky paprika, saffron, and short-grain rice that absorbs the broth without becoming soft.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “paella” in context.
Verb
01. cook paella
“We will cook paella together on Saturday evening.”
verb + noun
02. paella contains
“This paella contains rice, chicken, beans and peppers.”
noun + verb
03. paella serves
“This paella serves four people, so it is perfect for families.”
noun + verb
Adjective
04. chicken paella
“She cooked chicken paella for the whole family on Sunday.”
adj + noun
05. delicious paella
“They served delicious paella with fresh lemon on top.”
adj + noun
06. seafood paella
“My father ordered seafood paella with prawns and mussels.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. pan of paella
“The waiter brought a huge pan of paella to our table.”
noun + prep + noun
08. plate of paella
“I finished a whole plate of paella by myself!”
noun + prep + noun
09. recipe for paella
“My grandmother gave me her recipe for paella.”
noun + prep + noun
10. make a traditional paella
“We want to make a traditional paella for the party.”
11. order a seafood paella
“We ordered a seafood paella and it arrived in a huge pan.”
12. recipe for chicken paella
“I found an easy recipe for chicken paella online.”
Real-World Examples
“Paella is cooked with seasonal ingredients, rice that is cultivated in Valencia, and saffron for its distinctive flavour and golden glow.” “Outside Spain, paella – a delicious, saffron-hued mélange of rice, vegetables and meat – is unquestionably the nation's most widely recognised dish.” “Today, paella is served at every Spanish restaurant from London to Los Angeles, but this ancient rice dish originated in the fields and lagoons around Valencia.” “There are countless recipes for paella, which originates in Valencia and involves rice plus ingredients such as rabbit, seafood, snails and artichokes.” Etymology
Borrowed from Catalan paella (“pot; pan”), from Old French paelle, from Latin patella (“plate, small pan”). Doublet of patella and possibly pail.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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