Appetizer in Different Languages: 70 Delicious Translations From Around the World

Food is one of the easiest ways to connect with different cultures, and appetizers are often the perfect place to start.

Whether you are reading an international menu, traveling abroad, learning a new language, or simply curious about food vocabulary, knowing how to say appetizer in different languages can make the experience more enjoyable.

The English word “appetizer” generally refers to a small dish or bite served before the main course.

Depending on the country, however, people may use words such as “starter,” “hors d’oeuvre,” “small dish,” or a culturally specific term.

In this guide, you will discover appetizer translations in 70 languages, along with simple pronunciations and practical example sentences. This makes it easy to understand how the idea of an appetizer is expressed around the world.

Appetizer in Different Languages

The table below gives 70 ways to express “appetizer” or the closest commonly used equivalent in each language. Because food terminology can vary by region, some languages use a word that more closely means “starter” or “small dish.”

#	Language	Native Phrase	Easy English Pronunciation	Example Sentence	English Meaning
1	English	Appetizer	AP-uh-ty-zur	The appetizer was delicious.	The appetizer was delicious.
2	Spanish	Aperitivo	ah-peh-ree-TEE-voh	El aperitivo estaba delicioso.	The appetizer was delicious.
3	French	Entrée	ahn-TRAY	L’entrée était délicieuse.	The appetizer was delicious.
4	German	Vorspeise	FOR-shpy-zuh	Die Vorspeise war lecker.	The appetizer was tasty.
5	Italian	Antipasto	an-tee-PAH-stoh	L’antipasto era delizioso.	The appetizer was delicious.
6	Portuguese	Aperitivo	ah-peh-ree-TEE-voh	O aperitivo estava delicioso.	The appetizer was delicious.
7	Dutch	Voorgerecht	VOHR-khuh-rekht	Het voorgerecht was heerlijk.	The appetizer was delicious.
8	Swedish	Förrätt	FUR-ret	Förrätten var god.	The appetizer was good.
9	Norwegian	Forrett	FOR-ret	Forretten var deilig.	The appetizer was delicious.
10	Danish	Forret	FOR-ret	Forretten var lækker.	The appetizer was delicious.
11	Finnish	Alkupala	AL-koo-pah-lah	Alkupala oli herkullinen.	The appetizer was delicious.
12	Icelandic	Forréttur	FOR-ret-tur	Forrétturinn var góður.	The appetizer was good.
13	Irish	Tosaitheoir	TOSH-uh-hor	Bhí an tosaitheoir blasta.	The appetizer was tasty.
14	Scottish Gaelic	Blasad	BLAH-sut	Bha am blasad blasta.	The appetizer was tasty.
15	Welsh	Cwrs cyntaf	KOORS KAN-taavt	Roedd y cwrs cyntaf yn flasus.	The first course was tasty.
16	Polish	Przystawka	pshih-STAV-kah	Przystawka była pyszna.	The appetizer was delicious.
17	Czech	Předkrm	PRET-krm	Předkrm byl výborný.	The appetizer was excellent.
18	Slovak	Predjedlo	PRET-yed-loh	Predjedlo bolo chutné.	The appetizer was tasty.
19	Slovenian	Predjed	PRET-yed	Predjed je bil okusen.	The appetizer was tasty.
20	Croatian	Predjelo	PRET-yeh-loh	Predjelo je bilo ukusno.	The appetizer was tasty.
21	Serbian	Предјело	PRET-yeh-loh	Предјело је било укусно.	The appetizer was tasty.
22	Bosnian	Predjelo	PRET-yeh-loh	Predjelo je bilo ukusno.	The appetizer was tasty.
23	Bulgarian	Предястие	preh-DYAS-tee-eh	Предястието беше вкусно.	The appetizer was tasty.
24	Macedonian	Предјадење	preh-DYA-deh-nyeh	Предјадењето беше вкусно.	The appetizer was tasty.
25	Russian	Закуска	zah-KOOS-kah	Закуска была вкусной.	The appetizer was tasty.
26	Ukrainian	Закуска	zah-KOOS-kah	Закуска була смачна.	The appetizer was tasty.
27	Belarusian	Закуска	zah-KOOS-kah	Закуска была смачная.	The appetizer was tasty.
28	Lithuanian	Užkandis	oozh-KAN-dis	Užkandis buvo skanus.	The appetizer was tasty.
29	Latvian	Uzkoda	ooze-KOH-dah	Uzkoda bija garšīga.	The appetizer was tasty.
30	Estonian	Eelroog	AY-lohkh	Eelroog oli maitsev.	The appetizer was tasty.
31	Romanian	Aperitiv	ah-peh-ree-TEEV	Aperitivul a fost delicios.	The appetizer was delicious.
32	Hungarian	Előétel	EH-loh-ay-tel	Az előétel finom volt.	The appetizer was delicious.
33	Greek	Ορεκτικό	oh-rek-tee-KOH	Το ορεκτικό ήταν νόστιμο.	The appetizer was delicious.
34	Albanian	Meze	MEH-zeh	Mezeja ishte e shijshme.	The appetizer was delicious.
35	Turkish	Meze	MEH-zeh	Meze çok lezzetliydi.	The appetizer was very tasty.
36	Maltese	Appetizer	AP-uh-ty-zur	L-appetizer kien tajjeb.	The appetizer was good.
37	Arabic	مقبلات	muq-BI-lat	كانت المقبلات لذيذة.	The appetizers were delicious.
38	Hebrew	מתאבן	meh-TAH-ben	המתאבן היה טעים.	The appetizer was tasty.
39	Persian	پیش‌غذا	pish-GHAH	پیش‌غذا خوشمزه بود.	The appetizer was delicious.
40	Urdu	لوازماتِ طعام / بھوک بڑھانے والی غذا	law-AH-zimaat-e-ta’aam / bhook barhane wali ghiza	بھوک بڑھانے والی غذا مزیدار تھی۔	The appetizer was delicious.
41	Hindi	क्षुधावर्धक	kshoo-dhaa-VAR-dhak	क्षुधावर्धक बहुत स्वादिष्ट था।	The appetizer was very tasty.
42	Bengali	মুখরোচক	moo-kho-RO-chok	মুখরোচক খাবারটি সুস্বাদু ছিল।	The appetizer was delicious.
43	Punjabi	ਭੁੱਖ ਵਧਾਉਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਖਾਣਾ	bhukk vadhaa-un vaala khaana	ਭੁੱਖ ਵਧਾਉਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਖਾਣਾ ਸੁਆਦਲਾ ਸੀ।	The appetizer was tasty.
44	Gujarati	ભૂખ વધારનાર નાસ્તો	bhookh vadhaar-naar naasto	ભૂખ વધારનાર નાસ્તો સ્વાદિષ્ટ હતો.	The appetizer was delicious.
45	Marathi	भूक वाढवणारा पदार्थ	bhook vaadh-vanara padarth	भूक वाढवणारा पदार्थ चविष्ट होता.	The appetizer was tasty.
46	Nepali	अग्राहार	ag-ra-HAAR	अग्राहार स्वादिष्ट थियो।	The appetizer was delicious.
47	Sinhala	පෙර ආහාරය	per aaha-raya	පෙර ආහාරය රසවත් විය.	The appetizer was delicious.
48	Tamil	பசியைத் தூண்டும் உணவு	pasiyai thoondum unavu	பசியைத் தூண்டும் உணவு சுவையாக இருந்தது.	The appetizer was tasty.
49	Telugu	ఆకలి పెంచే ఆహారం	aakali penche aahaaram	ఆకలి పెంచే ఆహారం రుచిగా ఉంది.	The appetizer was tasty.
50	Kannada	ಹಸಿವು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸುವ ಆಹಾರ	hasivu hechchisuva aahaara	ಹಸಿವು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸುವ ಆಹಾರ ರುಚಿಯಾಗಿತ್ತು.	The appetizer was tasty.
51	Malayalam	വിശപ്പുണ്ടാക്കുന്ന ഭക്ഷണം	vishappundaakkunna bhakshanam	വിശപ്പുണ്ടാക്കുന്ന ഭക്ഷണം രുചികരമായിരുന്നു.	The appetizer was delicious.
52	Chinese	开胃菜	kāi wèi cài	开胃菜很好吃。	The appetizer was delicious.
53	Japanese	前菜	zensai	前菜はおいしかったです。	The appetizer was delicious.
54	Korean	전채	jeonchae	전채가 맛있었어요.	The appetizer was delicious.
55	Vietnamese	Món khai vị	mon khai vee	Món khai vị rất ngon.	The appetizer was very delicious.
56	Thai	อาหารเรียกน้ำย่อย	aa-hǎan rîak náam-yôi	อาหารเรียกน้ำย่อยอร่อยมาก	The appetizer was very delicious.
57	Indonesian	Hidangan pembuka	hee-DAH-ngan pem-BOO-kah	Hidangan pembukanya lezat.	The appetizer was delicious.
58	Malay	Hidangan pembuka	hee-DAH-ngan pem-BOO-kah	Hidangan pembuka itu sedap.	The appetizer was tasty.
59	Filipino	Pampagana	pam-pa-GA-na	Masarap ang pampagana.	The appetizer is delicious.
60	Javanese	Panganan pambuka	pang-AH-nan pam-BOO-kah	Panganan pambuka kuwi enak.	The appetizer is delicious.
61	Mongolian	Зууш	zoosh	Зууш амттай байсан.	The appetizer was tasty.
62	Georgian	აპეტაიზერი	ah-peh-TAY-zeh-ree	აპეტაიზერი გემრიელი იყო.	The appetizer was delicious.
63	Armenian	Նախուտեստ	nah-khoo-TEST	Նախուտեստը համեղ էր։	The appetizer was tasty.
64	Azerbaijani	Qəlyanaltı	geh-lyah-nal-tuh	Qəlyanaltı dadlı idi.	The appetizer was tasty.
65	Kazakh	Тіскебасар	tisk-eh-bah-SAR	Тіскебасар дәмді болды.	The appetizer was tasty.
66	Uzbek	Gazak	gah-ZAHK	Gazak juda mazali edi.	The appetizer was very tasty.
67	Swahili	Kitafunwa	kee-tah-FOON-wah	Kitafunwa kilikuwa kitamu.	The appetizer was tasty.
68	Afrikaans	Voorgereg	FOOR-khuh-rekh	Die voorgereg was heerlik.	The appetizer was delicious.
69	Zulu	Isiqalo sokudla	ee-see-QA-loh soh-KOOD-lah	Isiqalo sokudla sasimnandi.	The appetizer was delicious.
70	Haitian Creole	Antre	AHN-tray	Antre a te bon gou.	The appetizer was tasty.

What Does “Appetizer” Mean?

An appetizer is a relatively small portion of food served before the main course. Its purpose is often to stimulate the appetite and introduce the flavors of a meal.

Common appetizers include:

• Bruschetta
• Spring rolls
• Soup
• Salads
• Dips
• Stuffed vegetables
• Small seafood dishes
• Cheese and meat plates
• Fried snacks
• Vegetable fritters

The exact meaning can change depending on culinary tradition. In some countries, the first course may be more substantial than what English speakers normally consider an appetizer.

Appetizer vs. Starter: Are They the Same?

In everyday restaurant English, appetizer and starter often refer to the same general idea: food served before the main course.

“Appetizer” is particularly common in American English, while “starter” is widely used in British English and many other English-speaking settings.

For example:

• American English: “Would you like an appetizer?”
• British English: “Would you like a starter?”

Both terms usually describe a small first course, although restaurant menus can use them differently.

How to Say Appetizer in Different Languages

When learning how to say appetizer in different languages, it is important to remember that direct word-for-word translation does not always produce the most natural expression.

For example, Italian commonly uses antipasto, which refers to food served before a meal. French uses entrée, a term that has a different meaning from “entrée” in modern American English, where the word commonly refers to the main course.

Similarly, languages such as Turkish and Albanian commonly use meze, referring to small dishes traditionally served as part of a meal or alongside drinks.

This is why learning the cultural context behind appetizer translations can be just as useful as learning the vocabulary itself.

Appetizer in All Languages: Common Patterns

Looking at appetizer vocabulary across 70 languages reveals several interesting patterns.

Words Related to Starting a Meal

Many languages use terms that literally or conceptually describe the first food served.

Examples include:

• German: Vorspeise, meaning a food served before the main course
• Dutch: Voorgerecht, referring to the first course
• Swedish: Förrätt, meaning a preliminary course
• Indonesian: Hidangan pembuka, meaning an opening dish
• Malay: Hidangan pembuka, with the same basic meaning

Words Connected With Appetite

Some languages describe an appetizer according to its function: something that stimulates or increases appetite.

This idea appears particularly clearly in several South Asian languages, where longer descriptive expressions can be used instead of a single everyday equivalent.

International Culinary Words

Some food terms cross language boundaries. Antipasto, meze, and similar culinary expressions are recognized in many international food contexts.

These terms may describe not only one specific appetizer but also a style of small dishes.

Appetizer Around the World

The concept of an appetizer is found in many different culinary traditions, but the foods themselves can be very different.

In Mediterranean cuisines, small plates, olives, cheeses, vegetables, and cured meats are common before or alongside a meal. In East Asia, restaurants may serve small preliminary dishes that introduce flavors and textures before the main dishes arrive.

In South Asia, snacks and small savory foods can sometimes serve a role similar to appetizers, particularly when meals are served in several courses.

Across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, the first course can range from simple snacks to carefully prepared restaurant dishes.

Therefore, appetizer around the world is not one fixed type of food. It is a broad culinary concept expressed differently from culture to culture.

Why Appetizer Translations Can Differ

There is not always a perfect one-word equivalent for “appetizer.”

Translation depends on:

1. Local food culture – Some cuisines traditionally serve several small dishes rather than one defined appetizer.
2. Restaurant terminology – Menus may use specialized culinary terms.
3. Regional language – A word used in one country may sound unusual in another.
4. Historical influence – Culinary vocabulary can be borrowed from neighboring languages.
5. Context – “Appetizer” may refer to a snack, first course, or small plate depending on the situation.

For this reason, the translations in this guide focus on natural culinary equivalents rather than forcing an identical English structure into every language.

How to Use Appetizer Vocabulary in Real Life

If you are traveling, ordering food, or learning a language, you do not always need to memorize all 70 translations.

Start with the language you are most likely to use. Learn the native word, practice its pronunciation, and then use it in a short sentence.

For example, you might learn how to ask for an appetizer on a restaurant menu or recognize the word when reading a menu abroad.

Learning the word together with a real-life sentence is especially useful because it shows how the expression functions naturally.

Quick Guide to Appetizer Vocabulary

Here are some of the most recognizable terms from the list:

• Antipasto — Italian
• Aperitivo — Spanish and Portuguese
• Entrée — French
• Vorspeise — German
• Meze — Turkish and Albanian
• مقبلات — Arabic
• מתאבן — Hebrew
• 前菜 — Japanese
• 开胃菜 — Chinese
• 전채 — Korean
• Món khai vị — Vietnamese
• Hidangan pembuka — Indonesian and Malay
• Pampagana — Filipino

These terms are useful starting points for anyone interested in food vocabulary, international travel, translation, or language learning.

Frequently Asked Questions About Appetizer in Different Languages

1. What is the word for appetizer in different languages?

There are many different words for appetizer depending on the language and culinary culture. Examples include antipasto in Italian, Vorspeise in German, entrée in French, meze in Turkish, 前菜 in Japanese, and 开胃菜 in Chinese.

2. How do you say appetizer in Spanish?

In Spanish, “appetizer” can commonly be translated as aperitivo. Depending on the country and context, other food terms may also be used for small dishes served before or as part of a meal.

3. What is appetizer called in French?

In French, a common culinary term for an appetizer or first course is entrée. The meaning should be understood from the French culinary context because “entrée” has a different common meaning in American English.

4. What is the difference between an appetizer and a starter?

They generally refer to the same part of a meal: a small dish served before the main course. “Appetizer” is especially common in American English, while “starter” is common in British English and several other varieties of English.

5. Why are appetizer translations different across languages?

Languages reflect their own food traditions. Some cultures have a specific word for a first course, while others use a broader word for snacks, small dishes, or foods that stimulate appetite. As a result, the most natural translation depends on both language and culinary context.

Conclusion

Learning appetizer in different languages offers more than a simple vocabulary lesson. It provides a small window into how different cultures organize meals, describe food, and welcome diners to the table.

From Italian antipasto and Turkish meze to Japanese 前菜 and Chinese 开胃菜, the idea of an appetizer appears in many forms around the world.

Whether you are studying languages, preparing for international travel, reading foreign menus, or exploring food culture, these 70 appetizer translations give you a practical starting point for understanding how this popular culinary concept is expressed worldwide.