# paella

/paɪˈɛlɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/paella
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

a Spanish rice dish cooked in a wide flat pan, usually with chicken, seafood, and vegetables.

For teachers: 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.