Sign in
jam and Spanish jamón
In English
jam
a sweet fruit spread / a traffic blockage
In Spanish
jamón
carne de cerdo
Spanish "jamón" means: ham
Why they get mixed up Spanish "jamón" sounds similar to "jam" but is unrelated. English "jam" is a fruit spread with pieces of fruit in it. Cured meat (Spanish "jamón") in English is "ham."
If you want to say...
- jammermelada o atasco
- hamjamón
- traffic jamatasco
Examples
I spread jam on my toast.
Le unté mermelada a mi pan tostado.
We're stuck in a traffic jam.
Estamos atascados en el tráfico.
Strawberry jam is my favorite on bread.
La mermelada de fresa es mi favorita en el pan.
The printer has a paper jam.
La impresora tiene un atasco de papel.
Common mistakes in Spanish
Incorrect: Compré jamón de fresa para el pan.
Correct: Compré mermelada de fresa para el pan.
Jamón is ham, a cured pork product. Jam is mermelada.
Incorrect: Me gusta el jamón en la tostada, es dulce.
Correct: Me gusta la mermelada en la tostada, es dulce.
A sweet spread is mermelada, not jamón.
Phrases you will hear
- strawberry jammermelada de fresa
- a traffic jamun atasco
- a paper jamun atasco de papel
- a jam sessionuna sesión improvisada
- hamjamón
- a ham sandwichun sándwich de jamón
In a conversation
- A:
We're stuck in a traffic jam.
Estamos atrapados en un atasco.
- B:
Let's eat our sandwiches.
Comamos nuestros sándwiches.
- A:
I made ham and cheese.
Hice de jamón y queso.
- B:
I brought strawberry jam for dessert.
Traje mermelada de fresa para el postre.
Test yourself
"Strawberry jam" is...
To remember it
Jam = a fruit spread (or a traffic jam). Cured meat (Spanish "jamón") = ham.
Frequently asked questions
What does Spanish "jamón" mean?
Spanish "jamón" means "ham". It looks like the English "jam", which is exactly why it gets confused, but "jam" means "a sweet fruit spread / a traffic blockage".
Does English "jam" mean the same as Spanish "jamón"?
Spanish "jamón" sounds similar to "jam" but is unrelated. English "jam" is a fruit spread with pieces of fruit in it. Cured meat (Spanish "jamón") in English is "ham."