What does arroz mean?
Arroz is the Spanish and Portuguese word for rice, the staple cereal grain cultivated from Oryza sativa and central to cuisines across the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America. In English, the word survives chiefly as a loanword embedded in dish names — most famously arroz con pollo (rice with chicken), along with preparations such as arroz negro (black rice) and arroz blanco (white rice) — so an English speaker encountering it will usually be reading a menu, recipe, or food writing. The word has a remarkable history: it entered Iberian languages during the centuries of Arabic presence in Spain, descending from Arabic al-ruzz, which itself traces back through Persian to Sanskrit roots shared with the English word 'rice'. Though not part of everyday English vocabulary, recognizing arroz signals familiarity with Hispanic gastronomy and adds authentic flavor to culinary discussion.
nounThe Spanish and Portuguese word for rice, adopted into English primarily in fixed culinary expressions such as 'arroz con pollo' (rice with chicken).
- Rice, the edible starchy grain of Oryza sativa, especially as prepared or served in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking cuisines.
"For dinner tonight, she made arroz con pollo, the classic Latin American dish of chicken simmered with seasoned rice."
"The paella begins with a base of arroz bomba, the short-grain variety that absorbs broth without turning mushy."
"On Sundays her grandmother always served arroz with beans and roasted plantains."
In Spanish the plural is 'arroces'; however, because 'arroz' appears in English mainly as an invariable loanword inside fixed dish names, an English plural is rarely needed and best avoided in favor of the original forms.
"The restaurant's menu features several traditional arroces from the Valencia region."
Every grain of 'arroz' carries a passport: the word traveled from Sanskrit through Persian and Arabic into Spanish and Portuguese, making it a linguistic cousin of the English word 'rice' itself.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of arroz
Arroz derives from Arabic ar-ruzz ('the rice'), reflecting the transmission of both the crop and its name into Iberia during the period of Muslim rule in Spain and Portugal. The Arabic term itself descends from Persian ruz, ultimately tracing to Sanskrit sources related to the ancient Indo-Aryan word for rice. English 'rice' reached the language by a parallel route through Old French and Italian, making the two words distant relatives rather than one being derived from the other.
How arroz is actually used
In English text, 'arroz' functions as a loanword rather than a fully naturalized vocabulary item: it appears almost exclusively within named dishes or menus drawn from Hispanic cuisine, and it would be unusual to use it in ordinary English prose where 'rice' is meant. It remains invariable in form when borrowed into English.
Easily confused with arroz
'Arras' refers to a rich tapestry fabric or, in legal contexts, earnest money or a dowry deposit, whereas 'arroz' simply means rice.