If you’ve got a hankering for a brimming tub of hot popcorn in Latin America, you might want to consult with a local before heading to the counter at the movie theater. Popcorn may be one of life’s simple pleasures, but in Spanish, there are many different terms for it, depending on the nationality of the person who’s speaking.
You may take Spanish classes or may study Spanish abroad, but you still won’t learn how to say “popcorn” in Spanish unless you study a list of the most common ways to say it in each Latin American country.
So, how do you say “popcorn” in Spanish?
Well, grab your ticket stub, head out into the lobby and confidently place your order, using this handy guide. Now that you know all the ways to say “popcorn” in Latin America, you can enjoy a movie just about anywhere!
Argentina: pochoclo, tutuca
Bolivia: pipoca
Canary Islands: cotufa
Chile: cabrita
Colombia: crispetas or maíz pira
Cuba: rositas de maíz
Dominican Republic: cocaleca
Ecuador: canguil
Guatemala: poporopo
Mexico: palomitas de maíz
Panama: millo or popcorn
Paraguay: pororó
Peru: canchita
Puerto Rico: popcorn or poscon
Spain: tostón
Uruguay: pop
Venezuela: cotufa or gallito
Am I leaving out anything? Please let me know so I can expand this! (Also, please let me know what other regional terms we should feature that vary from country to country.)
Check out my additional posts about regional Spanish vocabulary in Latin America, how to say “drinking straw,” how to say “cool” and how to use slang while texting and instant messaging in Spanish:
• The Many Ways to Say “Drinking Straw” in Spanish
• Cool Ways to Say “Cool” in Spanish
• Texting and Instant Messaging in Spanish