How do you differentiate between a sweet cookie and a salty cracker or buttery biscuit?

Question

In the dictionary it says that cookie, biscuit and cracker are all "galletas." To talk about sweet treats vs. salty ones do you say galleta dulce? Or would you use another word entirely?

Answer 1

In Argentina we use "masitas" for sweet crackers or cookies

And "galletitas saladas" for crackers or saltines

And these are "masas finas", or "masas de confitería" or just "masas"

These are called "facturas"

Y cada una tiene un nombre: "alfajores de maizena", "medialuna", "vigilante", "sacramento", "tortita negra", "pasta frola", "arrollado", etc.

Answer 2

HI longo, welcome to the forum

In Spain if you simply say galleta, you will get a sweet one, with or without chocolate. If you want a salty one you need to say galleta salada.

Gracias! How would you say biscuit in Spain - not salty or sweet, just a plain biscuit? - aclongo, JUN 7, 2010

Answer 3

I use galletas de dulce and galletas de sal, but crackers (galletas) usually refer to salty ones and cookies (cookies also in Spanish) are the sweet ones.

Answer 4

Heidita said:

jeje, me encanta lo de facturasbig surprise

En España eso sería pastelito.

These are "pastelitos" in Argentina... yummy!!!!

Have a look at this blog, you'll find this picture and some info of Buenos Aires in English and in Spanish... Interesting!! ... http://lavidaenbuenosairesyafines.blogspot.com/2008_10_15_archive.html - Benz, JUN 7, 2010

Those look so good! Yo quiero! - aclongo, JUN 7, 2010

Answer 5

You're right -- you won't get a simply answer to this one!

In Mexico they used "galletas saladas" for salty crackers and "galletas" for sweet cookies.

Answer 6

jeje, me encanta lo de facturas

En España eso sería pastelito.

Por lo demás, galletita salada para cracker, galleta: biscuit. Cookie in British English is a biscuit with chocolate

Answer 7

Gracias. I see the answer is not going to be simple - so many regional differences! Oh well, I'll just have to settle with something simple. In Argentina would Robertico's suggestion be understood? (galletas de sal and galletas de dulce)

Answer 8

So in general, if I need to choose between a sweet treat and a salty one, I specify with galleta de sal and galleta de dulce. If I have no choice or no specification is necessary I just use galleta. Es correcto?

Answer 9

I hate to disagree with Robertico but I never heard anyone use "cookie" in Spanish talk in my pastures, Argentina, Chile, Spain (most parts thereof) nor in my more casual visits to Peru, Paraguay or Bolivia. There's a whole lot more places where they speak Spanish of course so maybe I have a skewed sample.

It's not used widely throughout the latin american countries but it is used, Especially in the Caribbean and Central Americas, - 00813f2a, JUN 6, 2010