paella

noun

pa·​el·​la pä-ˈā-yə 

-ˈāl-yə,

-ˈe-lə,

-ˈā-lə 

: a saffron-flavored dish containing rice, meat, seafood, and vegetables

Examples of paella in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Happily, recent years have brought some promising signs of this species’ return—and with better food, this time, as at the revamped El Quijote, in the Chelsea Hotel, a dusty old paella joint reborn, in recent years, as a sparkly high-roller dinner spot. —Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025

For example, arroz con mariscos closely resembles Spanish paella, while lomo saltado, a stir-fry dish prepared in a wok, reflects Chinese culinary techniques. —Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 2025

The menu is a Spanish journey with paella inspired by Valencia, seafood from Galicia and fresh produce brought in from the Canary Islands. —Katharina Kotrba, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

On the food menu are Spanish classics like paella, croquetas fritters, and patatas bravas, or crispy potatoes, along with colorful summer salads and crowd-pleasers like burgers and sandwiches. —Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Catalan, literally, pot, pan, from Middle French paelle, from Latin patella small pan — more at patella

First Known Use

circa 1892, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for paella

• shigella

Kids Definition

paella

noun

pa·​el·​la pä-ˈel-ə  -ˈāl-yə 

-ˈā-yə

: a Spanish dish of rice, meat, seafood, vegetables, and spices