Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Sirvo pollo crujiente con ensalada.

Spanish is a “pro‑drop” language: the verb ending already tells you the subject. Sirvo is first‑person singular (I). You add yo only for emphasis or contrast, e.g., Yo sirvo pollo crujiente, no Juan.

Can sirvo mean “I’m serving right now,” or do I need estoy sirviendo?

Both are possible. The simple present sirvo can express:

a habitual action: “That’s what I serve.”
something happening now (with context). To stress an action in progress, use the present progressive: Estoy sirviendo pollo crujiente con ensalada (“I’m serving … right this moment”).

How do you conjugate servir in key forms?

Present (e→i stem change): sirvo, sirves, sirve, servimos, sirven
Preterite: serví, serviste, sirvió, servimos, sirvieron
Gerund/participle: sirviendo, servido

What’s the difference between sirvo and me sirvo?

Sirvo = “I serve (to others).”
Me sirvo = “I help myself/serve myself.” Example: Me sirvo pollo crujiente (I’m taking some crispy chicken for myself).

Do I need an article before pollo or ensalada?

Not necessarily. With food, omitting the article often means an indefinite amount/type:

Sirvo pollo crujiente con ensalada = I serve crispy chicken with salad (in general). Use articles for specificity:
Sirvo el pollo crujiente con la ensalada = that specific chicken and that specific salad already known in context. Use un/una for a single, countable portion:
Sirvo una ensalada = one salad (a whole salad).

Is con ensalada or con una ensalada more natural?

Con ensalada is the default for a side in menus or general talk.
Con una ensalada suggests “with a (whole) salad,” e.g., each plate comes with one salad, or you’re highlighting a single salad as a unit.

Why does crujiente come after pollo? Can it go before?

Adjectives typically follow the noun in Spanish: pollo crujiente. Putting crujiente before the noun is uncommon and can sound poetic or odd here. Stick to pollo crujiente.

Does crujiente agree in gender and number?

Yes, but it has one form for masculine/feminine and changes only for number:

Singular: pollo crujiente, pescado crujiente, ensalada crujiente
Plural: pollos crujientes, papas crujientes, tostadas crujientes

Are there other ways to say “crispy” in Latin America?

Crujiente: widely understood everywhere.
Crocante: very common, especially in the Southern Cone; widely recognized elsewhere.
Related but not exact synonyms:
- Tostado(a) = toasted/crisp from toasting.
- Frito(a) = fried (may or may not be crispy).
- Empanizado/apanado = breaded; rebozado = battered (often crispy after frying).
- Doradito(a) = nicely browned (often implies some crispness).

How do you pronounce pollo and crujiente?

Pollo: In most of Latin America, ll sounds like English “y”: po-yo. In parts of Argentina/Uruguay, it can sound like “po-sho/po-zho.”
Crujiente: The j is a strong “h” (from throaty h to softer h depending on region): kru-HYEN-te. The r is a quick tap (not rolled), and c before r is a hard “k.”

If I’m a restaurant, should I say Servimos pollo crujiente con ensalada or Se sirve pollo crujiente con ensalada?

Both are fine:

Servimos … = “We serve …” (friendly, direct).
Se sirve … = impersonal/passive “is served” (neutral/formal, common on signs or menus). For plural items: Se sirven tacos.

Do I need the personal a before pollo?

No. The personal a marks animate, specific direct objects (usually people). Food doesn’t take it: Sirvo pollo, but Sirvo a los clientes.

How would I replace the food with a pronoun?

Use direct object pronouns that match gender/number of the known noun:

El pollo (crujiente) → lo: Ya lo sirvo con ensalada.
La ensalada → la: La sirvo con pollo crujiente.
Plurals: los/las. Note: If you’re speaking generically without an article (just pollo), you typically don’t replace it with a pronoun; pronouns refer back to specific, mentioned items.

Should pollo be plural if I’m serving many pieces?

Usually no. Pollo is a mass/uncountable noun in this context. Use singular (pollo) unless you mean multiple whole chickens (pollos), which is less common on menus. More natural: piezas/porciones de pollo crujiente.

Can I use y instead of con (e.g., … pollo crujiente y ensalada)?

Yes, but the nuance changes:

Con frames “salad” as an accompaniment/side.
Y simply lists two items (crispy chicken and salad) without implying one accompanies the other.

Can I move con ensalada earlier in the sentence?

The neutral order is object + complement: Sirvo pollo crujiente con ensalada. Fronting is possible for emphasis: Con ensalada, sirvo pollo crujiente, but it’s marked/stylistic. A common alternative on menus is … acompañado de ensalada (“… served with salad”).