almeja
nounCEFR B2
What does “almeja” mean in English?
a small edible shellfish with a hinged shell, common in Spanish and Latin American coastal cooking
Example sentences
Pedimos almejas a la marinera como entrante y una fuente de pescado a la plancha.
We ordered clams marinera-style as a starter and a plate of grilled fish.
En la costa gallega recogen almejas frescas cada mañana durante la marea baja.
On the Galician coast they gather fresh clams every morning during low tide.
How to use it
La almeja (noun, feminine) means 'clam'. It belongs to the broader category el marisco (shellfish/seafood, always singular as a collective in Spanish). Common in coastal cuisine: almejas a la marinera (clams in a marinera sauce), un plato de almejas.
Common mistake
Marisco (shellfish/seafood) is usually singular in Spanish even though it covers many species: el marisco es caro, not los mariscos son caros in the general sense — almeja is one specific type within that category.
Topics
Related B2 words
Reference
This entry’s teaching guidance follows Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (Instituto Cervantes), B2 Nociones específicas: alimentación.