Monday 24 March 2014

Fish names in Spain

I started to visit Spain regularly almost ten years ago and was initially overwhelmed by the quantity and variety of fish available locally. This shouldn't have been a surprise as we stay in Santa Pola, one of the most important fishing towns on the Spanish Mediterranean.  But what were all these strange fish that are rarely if ever seen in England?  Translating the names into English was not always a help in finding out how to cook them as I was unfamiliar with many of the English names – I've never knowingly eaten Wrasse or Comber or Drum in England!

But then there are added problems in Spain. Not only is there the possibility of confusion by the use of regional names and different  languages (in addition to Castillian Spanish, the Basque, Gallician, Catalan and Valencian languages are much in use) but sometimes the same name is used to describe different kinds of fish or a generic name is used for several species within the same family.
Many of the fish in the Spanish markets are not available in the UK, but as I was familiar with several species available in France, I thought it might help to  compare the French names.  On occasions it has been helpful but on others it has only added to the confusion! Sometimes the translation is very similar.  For example, the Spanish name for Bluefin tuna, usually just labelled tuna in England, is simply Atún or Atún rojo in Spain and in French Thon or Thon rouge.  However, Longfin tuna is known as Albacore in England and Albacora  in Spain but not in France, where they refer to Yellowfin Tuna as Albacore.

The Longfin Tuna (English Albacore) is the only fish that can be labelled “white meat tuna” in the United States. The most highly prized in Spain are the line caught ones, the loins of which are canned or bottled as Bonito del Norte.  In Gallicia it is referred to as Atún blanco and sometimes as Thon Blanc in France. (although he French have another name, Germon).  

The best way to be certain what fish you are eating is to go to the scientific name but you cannot always rely on this for connecting with the popular or market name. Although the Longfin tuna is known as Albacore in English and Albacora in Spanish,its scientific name is Thunnus alalunga (known in Italy as Alalonga), but the scientific name for the Yellowfin tuna is Thunnus albacares! So it would appear that the French and Italian names in this case are more closely related to the scientific name than Spanish or English.

But there is more confusion to come because the prized Bonito del Norte is not Bonito, it's Albacore!
Bonito (Sarda sarda) is a separate but related species in the Mackerel family. In Spain it is simply called Bonito and Bonite à dos rayé in France. (Although in northern Spain Albacore is often called Bonito).

The Skipjack tuna, which is rare in the Mediterranean, but common the the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and sometimes referred to in English as Oceanic Bonito, is known in France as Bonite à ventre rayé.  In Spain it is commonly called Listado or Alistado but there are different regional names.

Before causing any more confusion (I refer you back to my blogs on Colin and thePorbeagle shark) I have compiled a list of Spanish fish with their English and French names.  I started off by including only those fish which I had actually seen named on fish stalls, in fish markets or supermarkets in south-eastern Spain.  I have added a few related species , however, where they have been referred to in recipes and other books that I have studied.

All the Spanish names shown in Bold are ones I have actually observed and where  a name is used to describe more than one kind of fish it is starred *

This is very much a “work in progress” and is possibly wrong in some places. I would welcome corrections, additions, amendments and comments.

John's Spanish Fish Directory


SPANISH
Pescado
ENGLISH
Fish
FRENCH
Poisson
Oilyfish (Bluefish)
Boquerón
Anchoa
Anchovy
Anchois
Sardina
Sardine (small)
Pilchard (adult)
Sardine
Caballa
Verdel
Mackerel
Maquereau
Saboga
Shad
Alose feinte
Melva
Frigate Mackerel
Melva
Bonitou
Estornino
Chub Mackerel
Maquereau  Espagnole
Bonito
Albacora
Bonito del Norte
Atún blanco (Gal)
Bonito (Longfin tuna)
Albacore*
Bonite*
Bonite à dos rayé
Germon
Thon blanc
Atún
Tuna (Bluefin tuna)
Tunny
Thon rouge
Atún claro
Atún blanco (Gal)
Albacares
Rabil
Yellow fin tuna
Albacore*
Listado
Alistado
Palomida
Skipjack tuna
Bonite à ventre rayé
Bacoreta
Little tunny
Thonine
Mojama
Salted, dried tuna

Espadin
Sprat
Brisling
Esprot
Arenque
Herring
Hareng
Botargo/Botarga
Dried Tuna Roe (sometimes Mullet)

Bream (porgy)
Dorada
Orada
Gilt-head bream
Dorade royale,
Daurade royale
Besugo
Goraz
Bogaraval
Axillary sea bream
Sea bream
Blackspot sea bream
Blue-spotted bream*
Béryx
Dorade
Fausse daurade
Bogaravelle
Palometa negra
Zapatero
Japuta
Castañeta negra
Ray’s Bream
Castagnole
Brème de mer
Palometa roja
Red sea bream

Dentón
Urta
Dentex
Denté
Pargo
Pagre
Common sea bream
Red bream
Pagré
Sargo
White sea bream
Sar commun
Sar
Sargue
Aligote
Besuc
Bronze bream
Pageot blanc
Bézuque
Chopa
Black bream
Griset
Boga
Bogue
Bogue
Mabré,
Marbré
Herrera
Striped sea bream

Zapata,
Botargo
Blue spotted Sea Bream*

Mojarra
Two banded sea bream
Sar doré
Maily-cheeked fish
Rascacio
Escorpion*
(Black) Scorpion fish
Rascasse noire
Cabracho
Gallineta
(Red) Scorpion fish
Rascasse rouge
Escórpora
Small scorpion fish
Petite rascasse
Arete
Rubio*
Gallineta*
Red gurnard
Grondin rouge*
Arete aletón
Longfin gurnard
Grondin sombre
Borrach
Borracho
Perlon
Grey gurnard
Grondin gris
Cabete
Large scaled gurnard
Cavillone
Malarmat
Armado
Armat
Malarmado
Armed gurnard
Malarmat
Rubio*
Streaked gurnard
Grondin (rouge)*
Red Mullet
Salmonete de fango
Red mullet
Rouget barbet
Salmonete de roca
Red mullet
Rouget de roche
Grey Mullet
Pardete
Pardetón
Mújol
Lisa*
Mugil
Grey mullet
Mulet cabot
Galúna
Leaping grey mullet
Mulet sauteur
Galupe
Gold grey mullet
Mulet doré
Lisa*
Llisa
Lissa
Thick lipped  grey mullet
Mulet lippu
Lissa
Botargo/Botarga
Dried salted roe

Seabass family
Lubina
Llobarro
Llop
Sea bass
Bar
Loup de mer
Mero
Grouper (Sea perch)
Mérou
Cherne de ley
Bronze/White Grouper
Mérou blanc
Cherne Dentón
Dogtooth Grouper
Mérou noir
Falso Abadejo
Golden Grouper*
Badèche
Gitano
Golden Grouper*
Abadèche rouge
Cabrilla
Comber*
Serran
Serrano Imperial
Comber*
Serran à queue noire
Serrano
Comber*
Serran écriture
Merillo
Brown comber
Tambour
Flat fish
Rodaballo
Turbot
Turbot
Gallo*
Gallitos
Lliseria
Megrim
Whiff
Sail-fluke
Cardine
Fausse limande*
Hipogloso
Flet*
Halibut
Flétan
Rémol
Rombo
Rapante
Brill
Barbue
Solla
Plaice*
Plie
Carrelet
Platija*
Plaice*
Plie
Platija*
Platusa
Flounder
Fluke
Flet*
Limanda
Dab
Limande
Lenguado*
Dover sole
Sole
Lenguado*
Sortija
French sole
Sole pôle
Lenguado*
Suela

Sole de Klein
Sole tachetée
Mendolimon
Lemon Sole
Limande sole
Solleta

Fausse Limande*
Tambour Real
Soldat

Sole ocellée
Cartilaginous fish including Rays & skates, sharks
Raya* de clavos
Raya* commun
Thornback ray
Raie bouclée
Raya*
Noriega
Skate
Raie
Pocheteau gris
Angelote
Angel-shark
Angel fish
Monkfish*
Ange de mer
Pez perro
Cazón*
Mielga
Alitán
Dogfish
Huss
Rock salmon
Roussette
Rosada
Dogfish or other small shark fillets

Caillón
Cailón,
Marraxo
Marratzo
Marraix
Marratso mutormotz
Porbeagle shark
Mackerel shark*

Veau de Mer
Requin Taupe
Taupe
Maraîche

Morrajo
Marrajo
Marraxo azul
Marrazo muturluze

Shortfin Mako
Mackerel shark*
Requin-taupe bleu
Cazón
Tope
School shark
Mackerel shark*
Requin-hâ
Milandre
Cod family
Merluza
Hake
Merlu
Merluche
Colin*
Bacalao
Cod
Cabillaud
Bacalao
Saltcod
Stockfish
Morue sale
Abadejo*

Pollack
Pollock

Lieu*
Lieu jaune
Colin*
Abadejo*
Palero
Coley
Coalfish
Saithe
Lieu*
Lieu noir
Colin noir

Faneca
Abadejo*
Pout
Pouting
Pout whiting
Sea pout
Bib
Tacaud
Moue
Egelfino
Haddock
Églefin
Capellán
Capelin
Poor Cod
Capelan
Merlán
Plegonero
Maira*
Whiting
Merlan
Maira*
Bacaladilla
Blue Whiting
Poutassou
Maruca
Arbitán
Ling
Blue Ling
Lingue
Other white fish
Rape
Rata de mar
Monkfish
Anglerfish
Lotte (de mer)
Baudroie
Palometón
Leerfish
Garrick
Liche
Anguila
Eel
Anguille
Angula
Elver
Civelle
Congrio
Conger Eel
Congre
Morena
Moray Eel
Murène
Espetón
Barracuda
Brochet de mer
Pámpano
Pomfret
Fiatole
Pez espada
Emperador
Swordfish
Espadon
Pez de San Pedro
Gall
Gallo Pedro
Gallo*
John Dory
Saint-Pierre
Pez gato
Catfish
Poisson chat
Corvina
Meagre
Maigre
Sciène
Corbina
Tambour
Croaker
Drum
Meagre
Tambour
Maigre
Corvallo
Corb
Corb
Pez de Limón
Amberjack
Sériole
Chicharro
Chicharillo
Jurel
Horse Mackerel
Scad
Chinchard
Merlo
Wrasse
Girelle
Vieja
Vieja Colorada
Parrotfish
Perroquet-viellard
Escorpión*
Araña blanca
Weever
Vive
Vibora
Weever
Vive rayée
Pez cinto
Scabbard fish
Sabre
Pejerrey
Chuleto
Chuclet/xauclet
Eperalanós
Sand smelt
Smelt
Prêtre
Siouclet
Sauclet
Eperlan*
Pes de Rey
Kingfish

Crustaceans

Quisquilla*
Quisquilla d’arena
Brown shrimp
Crevette grise
Camarón
Quisquilla*
Prawn
Crevette rose
Carabinero
Prawn
Crevette rouge
Langostino
Prawn
Caramote
Crevette
Gamba
Prawn
Crevette  rose du large
Cigala

Dublin Bay prawn
Langoustine
Norway Lobster
Langoustine
Bogavante
Lobster
Homard
Langosta
Spiny lobster
Rock lobster
Crayfish
Langouste
Cigarra
Cigala gran
Flat lobster
Slipper lobster
(Grande) Cigale
Buey
Common crab
Tourtue
Cangrejo
Shore crab
Crabe
Crabe vert
Nécora
Swimming crab
Blue crab
Étrille
Centolla
Spider crab
Araignée
Gallera/Galera
Mantis shrimp
Squille
Percebe
Goose-necked barnacle
Pouce-pied
Oreja de mar
Ormer
Abalone
Ormeau
Lapa
Limpet
Patelle
Caracole gris
Sea Snail
Whelk*
Bigorneau
Escargot de mer
Cañadilla
Murex*
Rocher épineux
Busano
Murex*
Rocher à pourpre
Bigaro
Caracolillo
Winkle
Bigorneau
Caracola
Bocin
Whelk*
Buccin
Ostra
Oyster
Huître
Mejillon
Mussel
Moule
Datil de mar
Date-shell
Datte de mer
Nacár
Fan mussel
Jambonneau
Viera
Concha Peregrina
Pilgrim Scallop
Coquille Saint-Jacques
Zamburiña
Scallop
Pétoncle
Berberecho
Cockle*
Coque
Almendra de mar
Dog-cockle
Amande de mer
Berberecho (verde)
Verdigón
Cockle*
Coque/glauque
Langostillo
Bereberecho verrucoso
Escupiña
Cockle*
Bucarde
Almeja
Clam

Verigueto
Escupiña grabada
Warty Venus
Clam
Praire
Italian: Vongola
Chirla
Striped Venus
Clam
Petite praire
Italian: Vongola
Almeja fina
Carpet shell
Clam
Palourde
Almeja Babosa
Choch
Venus shell
Clam
Poulette
Coque bleu
Almeja dorada
Golden carpet shell
Clam
Clovisse
Navaja
Muergo
Longueirón
Razor-shell clam
Couteau
Cephalopods
Jibia
Sèpia
Cuttlefish
Inkfish
Seiche
Castaño
Choquito
Chopito*
Chipirón*
Choco
Globito
Little cuttlefish
Little “bobtail”
Sepiole
Chopito*
Chipirón*
Little squid

Calamar
Puntill
Loligo
Sepia
Squid
Encornet

Volador
Pota
Flying squid
Ilex squid
Calmar
Pulpo
Octopus
Poulpe
Other seafood
Erizo de mar
Sea Urchin
Oursin
Ortiga de mar
Sea anemone
Ortie de mer
Freshwater fish
Lucio
Pike
SA: Snoek
Brochet
Perca
Perch
Perche
Trucha
Trout
Truite
Carpa
Carp
Carpe
Salmón
Salmon
Saumon
Lucioperco
Pike perch
Sander
Zander
Sandre
Trucha asalmonada
Trucha Marina
Salmon trout
Sea trout
Truite saumonée
Truite de mer
Lamprea
Lamprey


Cangrejo de rio
Ástaco
Crayfish

Tenca
Tench


08.09.2019




1 comment:

  1. I had a spot of confusion last night arising from my lack of knowledge of fish names in Spain.
    At a restaurant last night. I saw Gallineta on the menu and from my memory mistakenly thought it was John Dory (which in Valencia is known as Gallo). When it arrived it was clearly not John Dory which has a very distinctive head and shape. A quick look at google on my phone suggested that it might be Gurnard which is Gallinette in French and Gallineta in Catalan (and presumably Valencian too). But the gurnard also has a very distinctive head and this was not it. In the back of my mind I had an inkling that Scorpion fish might have a similar name but drew a blank on google and decided not to waste any more time but to eat what was before me. My instinct and taste buds suggested it might be Scorpion fish (Rascasse). The cheeks were delicious - it reminded me of the time Jan and Steve stayed with us and their daughter, Leelah, who was not a fish person, acquired the taste for the cheeks when I cooked scorpion fish - which is usually known in Spain as Cabracho.
    Having enjoyed the meal, and back home, I was able to consult Alan Davidson's guide to the seafood of Spain and indeed scorpion fish or cabracho is sometimes called Gallineta. I have amended my fish list accordingly.

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