Skip to content

gamba

shrimp

noun GAHM-bah Rare

Origin: Italian gamba (leg), applied to crustaceans

Also means

prawn

Usage Note

Gamba is the standard term for large prawns or shrimp in Spain; in Latin America camarón is overwhelmingly preferred. The word is feminine. The classic dish gambas al ajillo (garlic prawns) is a staple of Spanish tapas menus.

Examples

"Pedimos gambas al ajillo."

Natural Translation

We ordered garlic shrimp.

Literal Translation

We-ordered prawns to-the garlic.

Explore Spanish by topic