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Vocabulary is an important aspect of the IELTS exam. It shows your ability to express your ideas clearly and effectively, enhancing both coherence and cohesion in the speaking and writing sections. It constitutes 25% of the total marks in both sections. A strong vocabulary can add depth to your arguments or explanations, thereby improving your overall IELTS band score.

Why Food Vocabulary Matters?

Are you a foodie? If so, you might find learning food-related vocabulary quite interesting.

Food vocabulary is important for the IELTS exam for several reasons:

• Common topic: Food is a part of our everyday life, and that’s why it is one of the common topics in the IELTS exam. Having a strong vocabulary related to food can help you discuss the topics in depth.
• Demonstrates Language Proficiency: Using specialised food terms and idioms rather than basic words can demonstrate your proficiency in the language. Expressions like “a slap-up meal”, “to eat like a horse”, and “my mouth is watering” can add colour to your speech.
• Nuanced Arguments: By using precise, descriptive food vocabulary, you can present your nuanced arguments clearly and effectively. This can help you to achieve a high band score.

In addition to this, food is closely tied to culture. Expanding your food vocabulary can help you explore different cuisines, understand cultural practices, and engage in meaningful discussions about food and society.

Whether you’re discussing your favourite dishes, talking about food preparation, or describing your eating habits, having a strong command of food-related vocabulary can make a big difference in your IELTS performance.

Read on to learn new Food vocabulary IELTS and improve your language skills as part of your IELTS preparation. 

Food Vocabulary IELTS

Food as a topic covers various topics ranging from cuisines, recipes, techniques, etc. We have divided the vocabulary related to food into 6 segments so you can understand and associate the words better. These segments can be:

• Food condition
• Food verbs
• Food quantities
• Food taste
• Food types
• Eating and drinking

List of Food Vocabulary IELTS: Common Words

Food is a universal topic that frequently appears in IELTS exams, particularly in the Speaking module. Knowing a wide range of food vocabulary can be useful for discussing related topics that may come up, such as health, the environment, cultural traditions, and globalisation. Hence, familiarising yourself with these words is crucial if you want to do well in the IELTS exam.

Here are some common Food vocabulary asked in the IELTS exam:

Category: Food Condition

Word	Meaning	Usage
Overcooked	Cooked beyond the optimal cooking time	The pasta was overcooked and too soft
Fresh	Food materials or products that have been recently prepared	The marinara at that outlet is prepared fresh every day
Raw	Not cooked properly/at all	The vegetables were raw and hard to chew
Stale/Rotten	Spoiled and past its optimal usage time	The whole room smells like rotten eggs
Unripe	Immature food item – not fit for consumption	The bananas you bought yesterday were unripe
Off	Not tasting as it should	The food at last night’s restaurant seemed off to me
Ripe	Fully grown and ready to eat	The bananas were ripe and ready to eat.
Tender	Soft and easy to chew	The steak was tender and delicious.
Juicy	Full of juice	The watermelon was sweet and juicy.
Crisp	Firm and fresh; crunchy	The lettuce was crisp and fresh.

Category: Food Verbs

Word	Meaning	Usage
Bake	Cook food with dry heat and without exposure to a flameUsage: She has been a fan of baking ever since she got back from France	She has been a fan of baking ever since she got back from France
Poach	Cooking an egg without its outer shell in or over boiling water	I like my eggs poached and cooked well
Grill	Cooking food using a grill	That place serves the best-grilled chicken in the city
Food Preparation	Cooking food by mixing and combining ingredients	The food preparation at her house was amazing
Fry	Cooking food in hot oil or fat	While frying, you should always look out for oil splatter
Chop	Cut into small pieces	She chopped the onions finely.
Boil	Cook in boiling water	Boil the potatoes until they are soft.
Stir	Mix with a circular motion	Stir the soup occasionally while it cooks.
Sauté	Cook quickly in a small amount of oil	Sauté the vegetables in olive oil.
Whisk	Beat or stir with a light, rapid movement	Whisk the eggs until they are fluffy.

Category: Food Quantities

Word	Meaning	Usage
Pint	A unit that is equal to 550 millilitres	I grabbed a pint of milk on my way home
Portion	A part or section of a whole	I just want a small portion of the pie
Spoonful	As much as a spoon can hold	I take my coffee with two spoonfuls of sugar
Slice	A small portion of a whole	I am on a diet and had only one slice of the cake
Dollop	A shapeless mass or blob of something	Add a dollop of cream on the pie.
Dash	A small quantity of a liquid	Add a dash of lemon juice to the salad.
Cup	A unit of measure, typically for liquids	Use a cup of milk for the recipe.
Handful	The amount held in one hand	She took a handful of nuts from the bowl.
Bunch	A number of things of the same kind, growing or fastened together	She bought a bunch of bananas.
Cluster	A group of similar things or people positioned closely together	There was a cluster of grapes on the table.
Piece	A part of something	She had a piece of chocolate after dinner.

Category: Food Taste

Word	Meaning	Usage
Bland	Tasteless or having little taste	The food tasted bland without the spices
Spicy	Flavoured with spices	Indians have a taste for spicy food and snacks
Savoury	Delicious	She cooks amazing and savoury food.
Mild	Not hot, sharp or strong in flavour	Elderly people like to have food with mild spices and flavours
Delicious	Extremely good tasting	Cooking delicious food is an art
Tasteless	Having no taste or flavour	The food at that new restaurant is completely tasteless
Sweet	Having a pleasant taste like sugar	The candy was very sweet.
Sour	Having an acidic taste	The lemon was sour.
Bitter	Having a sharp, unpleasant taste	The coffee was too bitter.

Category: Food Types 

Word	Meaning	Usage
Cuisine	A meal consists of four parts, namely a soup, appetiser, main course and dessert.	Italian cuisine is my go-to at any time of the day
Four-course meal	A meal consists of four parts, namely a soup, appetiser, main course and dessert	Indian weddings generally have four-course meals for guests
Nutritious	A meal consisting of all the required nutrients	Having a healthy, nutritious diet plan is the key to a healthy life
Dairy	Products created from milk, such as yoghurt, cream, butter, etc	Most vegans avoid dairy products and have shifted to alternatives like almond milk
Barbecue	A meal in which food is cooked over an open fire outdoors or in a special appliance	India doesn’t have the trend of barbecues as much as the West
Buffet	A meal that consists of a number of dishes that guests often have to serve for themselves	Breakfast buffets at hotels are becoming a very popular thing these days
Appetiser	The food is served after the soup and before the main course during a meal	For our appetisers, we’d like to have spring rolls, please, and some hors d’oeuvre
Grains	Seeds of cereal plants	Whole grains are a healthy choice.
Vegetables	Edible parts of plants	Eat more vegetables for a balanced diet.
Fruits	Edible seed-bearing parts of plants	Fresh fruits are rich in vitamins.

Category: Eating & Drinking

Word	Meaning	Usage
Guzzle	Eat or drink something hurriedly	He guzzled his drink before getting on the train
Gulp	Eating or swallowing food in large mouthfuls	Rather than gulping your food, you should chew and eat it properly
Wining & Dining	Entertainment that includes good food and drinks	The company wined and dined their prospective investors
Swallow	Allowing food or drinks to pass down the throat	Her mannerism of swallowing audibly made everyone uncomfortable
Chew	Biting and crushing food in the mouth to make it easier to swallow	Proper chewing helps with better digestion
Sip	Drink in small quantities	She sipped her tea slowly.
Gulp	Swallow quickly in large amounts	He gulped down the water after his run.
Munch	Eat steadily and often audibly	She munched on an apple.
Nibble	Take small bites	He nibbled on some cheese.

List of Food Vocabulary IELTS: Phrases & Collocations

Phrases and collocations are important for IELTS vocabulary as they enhance fluency and accuracy.  Mastering these aspects demonstrates your deeper understanding of language, helping you to sound more confident and coherent in your responses.
 

• Phrases: They can help you to connect your ideas smoothly, enhancing the coherence and cohesion of the essay.
• Collocations: It can enhance your speech and make it more fluent, natural, and accurate.

A strong command of collocations and phrases is crucial for achieving a high score in the vocabulary and language components of the IELTS exam.

Here are some phrases & collocations used for food-related words:

Phrases

Phrases	Meaning	Usage
A balanced diet	A diet consisting of healthy food with good nutrients	Maintaining a balanced diet is the key to a healthy life
A scrumptious meal	An extremely delicious meal	His mother cooked up a scrumptious meal for us
Calm the hunger pangs	Reducing the discomfort caused by hunger	He grabbed a quick bite to eat to calm his hunger pangs
Cut down on	Reducing the intake	Since diabetes is hereditary in my family, I’ve cut down on my sugar intake
Sweet tooth	A person fond of sweet food	She has a very sweet tooth when it comes to brownies
Junk food	Food with little or no nutritional value	Eating junk food every day can harm your body
My mouth is watering	Feeling hungry for something	My mouth watered at the thought of fried chicken
Fussy eater	Someone who dislikes many foods	Her baby is a fussy eater
Quick Snack	A small meal that you can eat on the go	I was feeling too lazy to cook, so I ordered a takeaway from my favourite restaurant.
Takeaway	A meal prepared in a restaurant and eaten at home	Since diabetes is hereditary in my family, I’ve cut down on my sugar intake.
A bottle of bubbly	Sparkling wine	To celebrate their anniversary, they opened up a bottle of bubbly at the restaurant.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning	Usage
Fresh produce	Fruits and vegetables that are fresh	The market offers a wide range of fresh produce.
Junk food	Unhealthy food that is high in calories but low in nutritional value	Eating too much junk food can lead to health problems.
Balanced diet	A diet that includes a variety of different foods in the right proportions	Maintaining a balanced diet is essential for good health.
Fast food	Food that can be prepared and served quickly	They often eat fast food for lunch due to their busy schedules.
Processed food	Food that has been altered from its natural state	Processed foods often contain high levels of sugar and salt.
Staple food	A basic or main food that is eaten regularly	Rice is a staple food in many Asian countries.
Comfort food	Food that provides consolation or a feeling of well-being is typically associated with childhood or home cooking.	She turned to comfort food like macaroni and cheese during stressful times.
Organic food	Food produced without the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, or other artificial agents	Many people prefer organic food for its perceived health benefits.
Gourmet food	High-quality, sophisticated, and often expensive food	They enjoyed a gourmet meal at the five-star restaurant.
Home-cooked meal	A meal prepared at home rather than purchased from a restaurant or store	There’s nothing like a home-cooked meal.
Light snack	A small amount of food eaten between meals	She had a light snack of fruit in the afternoon.

Sample Questions on Food Vocabulary IELTS

To score well in the IELTS exam, you should know the type of questions asked on the food topic. Here are some questions and sample answers to help you excel in the exam:

IELTS Speaking Module

Part 1: Introduction

1. What kind of meals do you like?

Ans. Oh, I love different kinds of meat. My mouth waters whenever I see grilled chicken or mutton chops. I don’t like to cook by myself, so I often eat ready-to-eat meals and takeaways.

2. How often do you have dinner with your friends or family?

Ans. I try to dine out with my family as much as possible. Unfortunately, I don’t get enough time for family dinners due to my extremely busy schedule. 

3. When do you usually have dinner?

Ans. I usually have my dinner at about 8 p.m. I’m starving by then and sometimes overeat.

4. What fruits or vegetables do you like or don’t like? Why?

Ans. Well, I’m not a fussy eater, but I hate seafood. I try to avoid going to restaurants that serve seafood.

5. And what is your favourite cuisine?

Ans. I love French cuisine. Its versatility and flavourful ingredients make it my favourite. French cuisine has many dishes, like their famous onion soup and cheese fondue. Also, French food rarely contains artificial ingredients or flavours.

Part 2: Cue Cards/ Individual Long Turn

1. Have a look at the card and prepare a monologue.

Topic: Describe a place you like to eat at. You should say: Where is it? What kind of food does it serve? Why do you like its food? How often do you eat there?

Ans. I would like to talk about a pretty little restaurant within walking distance of my home called “La Pizzeria.” It is situated on an ancient street in the heart of the city. This restaurant serves Italian cuisine, which is one of my favourites. They serve Italian delicacies like pasta, pizza and tomato soup. My favourite among these is the pizza. It is an extremely versatile food and can be made with various toppings and sauces. I love Italian food because its fresh and flavourful ingredients satisfy the heart and soul. Hence, I eat frequently at that restaurant. Although it’s not cheap by any means, the quality of their food justifies the bill.

Part 3: Two-way Discussion

Q1. Tell me about the types of food that people eat in your country?

Ans.  In my country, we enjoy a variety of foods, including traditional dishes like biryani and dal, as well as popular street food like samosas and chaat. Besides these, Chinese and Italian cuisines are very popular in urban areas.

Q2. How healthy is your country’s food?

Ans. In my country, traditional meals like vegetables, legumes, and whole grains are healthy. Yet, fast food and processed snacks are becoming increasingly popular, which is leading to fewer healthy choices.

Q3. Why do you think different cultures have different table manners?

Ans. I think table manners vary across cultures due to differing social norms and values. Different cultures have different dining customs. Some cultures eat with their hands, while others use utensils. I think these practices are adopted by people based on their history, geography, and social norms.

Q4.How has technology changed the way we prepare our food these days?

Ans. Technology has changed how we cook. Nowadays, we have smart appliances and cooking apps to make cooking easier. This is also helping in reducing waste.

Q5. Do people of different age groups have different food choices?

Ans. Yes, food choices often vary across age groups. For eg, young people like fast food and snacks, while older people prefer traditional home-cooked meals. This is because older people are more health conscious, so they prefer to have healthy and digestible food.

IELTS Writing Section

1. With a growing world population, one of the most pressing issues is

feeding such a large number of people. Some people think that GM foods offer a viable solution to this problem. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

2. Some people think that educating people about the problems of eating too much fast food has no effect and that other measures should be taken to tackle this issue. What is your opinion?

3. People should only buy food sourced locally. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

4. Some people think that the increase in the number of obese people

should be the responsibility of the government, while others think it should be the responsibility of individuals. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

5. With a growing population, many people believe that we should focus on producing more GM foods.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing this?

Also Read: Latest IELTS Writing Task 1 2024: Vocabulary & Bar Chart

Tips To Use Food Vocabulary In IELTS Exam

To perform well on the IELTS speaking exam when discussing food, you should be familiar with some tips on how to use food vocabulary words.

Here are some tips for using food vocabulary in the IELTS exam:

• Familiarise Yourself with Common Food Vocabulary: It’s crucial to know how to use a wide range of food-related words like “cuisine,” “delicacy,” “dish,” “snack,” “appetiser,” “main course,” and “dessert” appropriately for the IELTS exam.
• Read food articles and blogs: You should read some food blogs and articles on popular websites like BBC, which can help you learn this specialised vocabulary through their wealth of recipes and cooking content.

By incorporating this diverse food vocabulary, you can demonstrate your language proficiency and give detailed, nuanced responses on the IELTS speaking exam.

Related Articles:

• IELTS Education Related Vocabulary
• Social Media Vocabulary for IELTS
• IELTS Vocabulary List for Culture
• IELTS Vocabulary List for Environment
•  IELTS Vocabulary List to Describe Personality

Conclusion

Food is the language of the world and is different in every nook and cranny around the globe. Thus, there are a plethora of terms and phrases related to food and drink that you can learn and improve your vocabulary for food for the IELTS exam. Read and understand the terms and phrases and practise them to bring them into your daily lingo. 

By mastering a wide range of food-related terms, you’ll be better equipped to express yourself confidently and accurately in the Speaking and Writing sections. Remember, practice is key. Try incorporating new words into your daily conversations and writing exercises. This will help you perform better in the exam and improve your language skills as well.

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