The Spanish term for a small appetizer or snack, often served in bars, is a tapa.
The word tapa literally means “cover” or “lid,” while tapas is its plural form. Tapas may be served hot or cold and can include olives, cheese, cured meats, seafood, fried foods, or prepared vegetables. A single appetizer is a tapa; several are tapas.
The custom is closely associated with Spanish bars and social drinking, although the exact origin is debated. Popular stories connect the tradition with covering wine glasses with small plates, while another legend credits King Alfonso X of Castile with requiring taverns to serve food alongside wine.
A common mix-up is treating tapa, pincho, and pintxo as exact synonyms. Pinchos or pintxos are often mounted on bread or held together with a skewer, whereas tapa is a broader term. Montaditos are specifically small sandwiches, and ración usually means a larger serving.