How to Say ‘Raw Onions’ in Spanish | Cebollas Crudas Right

‘Raw onions’ translates as cebollas crudas; use cebolla cruda for one onion served uncooked.

If you’ve ever pointed at onions on a plate and tried to say “raw” in Spanish, you’re not alone. Onions show up in salads, tacos, burgers, salsas, ceviche, and sandwich toppings. One small word choice can change what you get on the plate.

This page gives you the natural Spanish options, when each one fits, and how to sound clear when you’re ordering food or writing a recipe. You’ll also get pronunciation help and real-use phrases you can copy as-is.

What ‘Raw’ Means In Food Spanish

In everyday food talk, “raw” often means “not cooked.” Spanish has a few ways to express that idea, and the best pick depends on the food and the setting.

With onions, the plain, direct choice is crudo / cruda. You’ll see it on menus, hear it in kitchens, and use it in recipes. It points to onions that are uncooked, not sautéed, not caramelized, not grilled.

Spanish also uses phrases that lean more “served uncooked” than “raw as an ingredient.” Those can sound more menu-friendly in some places.

How To Say Raw Onions In Spanish On A Menu

The most common translation is:

• cebollas crudas (plural: raw onions)
• cebolla cruda (singular: raw onion)

Spanish adjectives agree with the noun. Cebolla is feminine, so the adjective goes feminine too: cruda, not crudo. When you make it plural, both parts change: cebollas crudas.

If you’re talking about onion topping in general, Spanish often uses the plural. If you mean a single onion as an ingredient, the singular can sound more precise.

Pronunciation So You Don’t Get Stuck Mid-Order

Here’s a simple, readable guide:

• cebolla: seh-BOH-yah
• cebollas: seh-BOH-yahs
• cruda: KROO-dah
• crudas: KROO-dahs

The double “ll” changes by region. In many places it sounds like a “y.” In parts of Argentina and Uruguay it can sound closer to “sh” or “zh.” Your meaning stays clear either way.

When People Use A Different Word Than cruda

Sometimes you’ll hear Spanish speakers switch to words that feel less blunt than “raw,” even when the onions are uncooked. Two common ones:

• cebolla fresca (fresh onion, often meaning uncooked onion in a topping context)
• cebolla en crudo (onion served uncooked; common in Spain)

Fresca can be a soft way to signal “not cooked,” yet it can also mean the onion itself is fresh. If you want zero ambiguity, stick with cruda or en crudo.

Grammar That Keeps Your Spanish Clean

Spanish agreement is the whole trick here. Get the noun’s gender and number right, then match the adjective.

Singular Vs. Plural

Use singular when you mean one onion or the ingredient as a unit:

• Necesito cebolla cruda para la ensalada. (I need raw onion for the salad.)

Use plural when you mean pieces, slices, or onions as a topping category:

• Quiero cebollas crudas encima. (I want raw onions on top.)

Feminine Form Matters

Cebolla is feminine, so it pairs with cruda. If you change the noun, the adjective can change too. Take aro de cebolla (onion ring). That noun phrase is masculine because of aro, so you might hear aro de cebolla crudo in a kitchen setting, though menus tend to rephrase it to keep it smooth.

Most Useful Phrases People Actually Say

These lines work in restaurants, at a market counter, or while cooking with friends. They’re short and direct.

• Sin cebolla, por favor. (No onion, please.)
• Sin cebolla cruda, por favor. (No raw onion, please.)
• Con cebolla cruda. (With raw onion.)
• ¿Puede ser sin cebolla cruda? (Can it be without raw onion?)
• ¿La cebolla viene cruda o cocida? (Does the onion come raw or cooked?)
• Solo un poco de cebolla cruda. (Just a little raw onion.)
• La quiero bien picada. (I want it finely chopped.)

If you’re sensitive to raw onion, pairing sin cebolla cruda with a quick check question helps: ¿Seguro que no trae cebolla cruda? (Are you sure it doesn’t come with raw onion?)

Common Options And When Each Fits

The wording below helps you match the situation. Pick the row that matches what you mean, then copy the Spanish.

Spanish Term	Plain Meaning	Best Use
cebollas crudas	raw onions (plural)	Toppings, slices, diced onion on food
cebolla cruda	raw onion (singular)	Ingredient lists, recipe steps, grocery talk
cebolla en crudo	onion served uncooked	Menu talk in Spain; “served raw” nuance
cebolla fresca	fresh onion	Casual talk when context already implies uncooked
sin cebolla cruda	without raw onion	Allergy/sensitivity requests, strict preferences
con cebolla cruda	with raw onion	Confirming you want it included
cebolla cruda picada	chopped raw onion	Recipes, salsa prep, kitchen requests
cebolla cruda en rodajas	sliced raw onion	Burgers, sandwiches, salads
cebolla cruda en cubitos	diced raw onion	Tacos, ceviche, pico-style toppings

Regional Notes Without Overthinking It

You can say cebollas crudas across Spanish-speaking regions and be understood. That’s the safe default.

In Spain, en crudo appears more in food writing and menus. In Latin America, cruda is common, and fresca shows up in casual talk when the context already makes “uncooked” clear.

If you hear a phrase you don’t use, treat it as a style choice. Your goal is clarity, not chasing every local habit.

Ordering Food With Raw Onion Requests

Raw onion is one of those toppings that can be default, hidden, or mixed into sauces. A clean request saves back-and-forth.

When You Want Raw Onion Included

• Con cebolla cruda, por favor.
• Añádele cebolla cruda. (Add raw onion to it.)
• ¿Le puede poner cebolla cruda arriba? (Can you put raw onion on top?)

When You Want It Removed

• Sin cebolla cruda, por favor.
• ¿Se puede quitar la cebolla cruda? (Can the raw onion be removed?)
• Sin cebolla, por favor; ni cruda ni cocida. (No onion; neither raw nor cooked.)

When You Want A Smaller Amount

• Solo un poco de cebolla cruda.
• Muy poquita cebolla cruda. (A tiny bit of raw onion.)
• La cebolla cruda aparte. (Raw onion on the side.)

Aparte is a lifesaver. It gives you control at the table without slowing the kitchen down.

Extra Detail That Helps In Recipes

Recipe Spanish often adds a prep style, since onions can be sliced, chopped, minced, or grated. Pair the “raw onion” phrase with the cut.

Useful Prep Words

• picada (chopped)
• finamente picada (finely chopped)
• en rodajas (in slices/rings)
• en cubitos (diced)
• rallada (grated)

Recipe-Style Lines You Can Copy

• Agrega cebolla cruda picada. (Add chopped raw onion.)
• Mezcla tomate, cilantro y cebolla cruda en cubitos. (Mix tomato, cilantro, and diced raw onion.)
• Sirve con cebollas crudas en rodajas. (Serve with sliced raw onions.)

Common Food Situations And The Best Spanish To Use

This table maps real ordering moments to short Spanish lines. Keep them simple. They work even if you’re speaking slowly.

Situation	Spanish You Can Say	Meaning
Burger topping choice	Con cebollas crudas, por favor.	With raw onions
Requesting removal	Sin cebolla cruda, por favor.	Without raw onion
Checking what comes on it	¿Trae cebolla cruda?	Does it come with raw onion?
On the side	La cebolla cruda aparte.	Raw onion on the side
Small amount	Solo un poco de cebolla cruda.	Just a little raw onion
Cooked instead of raw	¿Puede ser cebolla cocida?	Can it be cooked onion?
Clarifying raw vs cooked	¿La cebolla viene cruda o cocida?	Raw or cooked onion?

Common Mistakes And Easy Fixes

Most mix-ups come from one of three spots: agreement, mixing “fresh” with “raw,” or choosing the wrong number.

Using crudo With cebolla

Cebolla is feminine, so it’s cebolla cruda, not cebolla crudo. If you slip, people still get you, yet it can sound off. Fixing it is quick: swap to cruda.

Using fresca When You Mean Uncooked, No Doubt

Cebolla fresca can work in casual talk, yet it can also mean “fresh onion” as in “not old.” If your goal is crystal-clear, say cruda or en crudo.

Singular When The Menu Treats It As A Topping

Menus and servers often treat onion toppings as plural: cebollas crudas. If you say singular, it’s fine, yet plural tends to match what they expect.

A Simple Wrap-Up You Can Use Today

If you want the most natural, widely understood Spanish, go with cebollas crudas for “raw onions” and cebolla cruda for “raw onion.” Add aparte when you want control, and use the raw-or-cooked question when you’re not sure what’s included.

That’s it. One small phrase, said cleanly, and you’ll get the onions the way you meant.