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Explore Colombia’s diverse arepas—from crispy and salty to sweet and filled—and pick up the Spanish phrases to enjoy them like a native! 🫓
Last week, my student Mary messaged me at dawn from Bogotá: "¡Teacher Laura! I just had the best arepa of my life!"
She had stopped at the heart of Plaza de Bolívar at 6:00 A.M. — surrounded by the rhythm of the city: workers in suits, delivery men, and students all lining up before sunrise.
A woman with a warm smile handed her an arepa con queso, hot off the grill. "It was soft, crispy, and perfect," she wrote. "I finally felt like I was part of the city."
💡 Insight: When you learn Spanish through culture, you're not just learning vocabulary — you're becoming part of our “familia colombiana”. These arepa memories won’t just belong to Colombians… they'll belong to you too. Let’s taste the language together!
🌽 What is "Arepa"?
Arepa is pure Colombian magic made simple! This round, flat staple comes from corn (maíz) that has been a sacred food in our lands for over 3,000 years. From the indigenous peoples to modern Colombian families, the arepa represents love, tradition, and home.
Every region in Colombia has its own special way of making arepas. In the coast, we make them thick and stuff them with cheese or meat. In Antioquia, they're thin and perfect with butter. In Bogotá, people love them with cheese and hot chocolate. But everywhere, they're made with the same ingredient: pure amor (love)!
Arepa
Corn flatbread
A/re/pa
(ah - REH - pah)
🎧
"La arepa está deliciosa"
La a/re/pa es/tá de/li/cio/sa
(lah ah - REH - pah es-TÁ deh - lee - SYOH - sah)
🎧
Maíz
Corn
Ma/íz
(mah - EES)
🎧
"El maíz es amarillo"
El ma/íz es a/ma/ri/llo
(el mah - EES es ah - mah - REE - yoh)
🎧
Caliente
Hot / Warm
Ca/lien/te
(kah - lee -EN -teh)
🎧
"La arepa está caliente"
La a/re/pa es/tá ca/lien/te
(lah ah - REH - pah es-TÁ kah-lee-EN-teh)
🎧
Queso
Cheese
Que/so
(KEH - soh)
🎧
"Me gusta el queso"
Me gus/ta el que/so
(meh GOOS - tah el KEH - soh)
🎧
Desayuno
Breakfast
De/sa/yu/no
(deh - sah - YOO - noh)
🎧
"Mi desayuno favorito"
Mi de/sa/yu/no fa/vo/ri/to
(mee deh - sah - YOO - noh fah - boh - REE - toh)
🎧
🎯 Interactive Exercise #1
Let’s build sentences together! Using words from this lessons, complete this sentence:
"En mi ______ como ______ con ______."
(In my ______ I eat ______ with ______.)
💬 Write your sentence in the comments — I’m waiting for you!
I personally read and respond to every single one 💛
Mix and match: casa / familia, arepa / chorizo, queso / sabroso, desayuno
You’re building your Spanish voice – one delicious sentence at a time 🍊 Don’t worry about perfection. Just express yourself and have fun! 🎉
🧠 Interactive Exercise #2
Memory Challenge:
Can you remember the Spanish words for these from our two lessons?
- Grandmother = _______
- Delicious = _______
- Hot/Warm = _______
- I love it! = _______
💬 Write your answers in the comments — I’ll be reading them!
I personally check every single one from my sunny corner in Colombia ☀️
You’ve got this, amig@! Every word you remember is a step closer to fluency 💪
🏛 Discover Colombia's Regions Through Arepas
Did you know that you can travel through all of Colombia just by trying different arepas? Each region tells its story through this magical food! Let me take you on a virtual journey through our beautiful country.
🏖 Caribbean Coast - Arepa de Huevo
In beautiful Cartagena and Barranquilla, we make arepa de huevo - a thin arepa filled with a whole egg and fried until golden! Street vendors sell them warm from their carts, and the smell calls you from blocks away.
⛰ Antioquia - Arepa Paisa
In Medellín and the paisa region, arepas are thick, white, and perfect with butter and cheese. They accompany our traditional bandeja paisa and represent the warmth of paisa hospitality.
🏔 Bogotá - Arepa Boyacense
In our capital's cold mornings, we love thick arepas with cheese, served with hot chocolate. The combination will warm your heart and soul!
✨ Fun Cultural Facts:
- Colombians eat arepas for desayuno (breakfast), almuerzo (lunch), AND comida (dinner)! 🌅🌞🌙
- The word "arepa" comes from the indigenous word "erepa" meaning corn 🌽
- Making arepas by hand is called amasar – it's a meditation of love
- Every Colombian mother has her secret ingredient for perfect arepas 🤫
- In some regions, we add panela (brown sugar) for a sweet touch
🌄 Ready to taste this moment in real life??
Imagine waking up in the vibrant hills of Medellín, the city of eternal spring. 🌿 You sip on a cup of hot chocolate while enjoying a fresh, cheesy arepa as the city slowly comes alive around you. 🫓☕
This isn’t just breakfast — it’s Colombia waiting for you with open arms, incredible food, and the warmest people you'll ever meet!
🌟 Continue Your Spanish Journey with Me!
Did these arepas from Bogotá, Barranquilla, and Medellín make you hungry? To truly experience Colombia like a local, you need more than just knowing the food. Here's everything you need for your Colombian gastronomic adventure.
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