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April 29, 2021 by Nicole Canún Spanish Vocabulary 0 comments

200+ Vocabulary Words: Herbs and Spices in Spanish

Are you ready to become an expert on spices in Spanish? 

Las especias (spices) are important and delicious aspects of the international culinary scene, including in Hispanic countries. 

Keep reading to learn a bit about the history of spices and access a mother lode of vocabulary related to spices in Spanish!

¡Aprendamos!
Let’s learn!

A Brief History of Spices

The tasty herbs and spices we enjoy today have come a long way to arrive on tables. Spices have been used since the Greek era for cooking, healing, and aromatherapy. 

Historically, societies coveted spices due to their value as seasonings, food preservers, and natural medicines. 

In the Middle Ages, spices spread throughout the Arab region and peaked in popularity during the Crusades. After that, spices were no longer used exclusively by the privileged. Now, you could find them in almost every kitchen. 

Long before transatlantic voyages, spices were part of major trade networks. They’ve helped drive globalization for centuries. Many spices spread across Europe, including chili varieties, vainilla, cinnamon, and pepper. 

The Difference Between Herbs and Spices in Spanish 

Spices and herbs are two different things. While both come from plants and add flavors to dishes, there are are several differences to be aware of:

  • Herbs are fresh plants—spices are dried seeds, fruits, roots and stalks.
  • Herbs have subtle flavors—spices have stronger flavors.
  • Herbs need refrigeration or to be placed in a vase with water—spices can be stored in the pantry, ideally in glass jars.
  • Herbs often serve as garnish on dishes—spices normally aren’t used in this way.
Spices in Spanish

Spices in Spanish: Verbs and Nouns 

To discuss spices in Spanish, it’s helpful to learn or review some basic cooking vocabulary. Here’s a quick list to get you started.

Verbs

  • Echar – To throw
  • Mezclar – To mix
  • Combinar – To blend
  • Adornar – To garnish
  • Aromatizar – To scent
  • Perfumar – To perfume
  • Probar – To try, taste, sample

Measurements

  • La pizca – Pinch 
  • La cucharadita – Teaspoon  
  • La cucharada – Tablespoon  

Senses

  • El olor – Scent
  • El sabor – Flavor
  • La textura – Texture
  • El atractivo visual – Visual appeal

Adjectives

  • Seco/a – Dried 
  • Ahumado/a – Smoked
  • Asado/a – Roasted
  • Tostado/a – Toasted
  • Silvestre – Wild
  • Molido/a – Ground
  • Picado/a – Chopped
  • Partido/a – Split
  • Rebanado/a – Sliced

Nouns

  • Las hojuelas – Flakes 
  • Las hojas – Leaves
  • Las semillas – Seeds
  • El condimentador, el sazonador – Seasoning
  • El polvo – Powder

A Smorgasbord of Spices in Spanish

Now we’re ready to dive into our lesson on spices in Spanish! Beware—these seasonings will make your mouth water.

Latin America Spices

  • El achiote – Annatto seed
  • Los granos de pimienta brasileña negra – Brazilian black peppercorns
  • El polvo de chipotle – Chipotle powder
  • La paprika / el pimentón – Paprika
  • El pimentón ahumado – Smoked paprika
  • La sal rosa boliviana – Bolivian rose salt
  • La pimienta rosa – Pink peppercorn or rose baie
  • La vainilla – Vanilla 
  • Las alubias de vainilla – Vanilla beans
  • El epazote – Epazote
  • El chile de árbol – Tree chili
  • Nuez molida – Ground walnut
  • Chile guajillo – Guajillo chili
  • La vainilla – Vanilla
  • Los chiles secos – Dried chilis
  • El pimiento rojo – Red pepper
  • El pimiento morrón – Pimiento
  • El pimiento de tabasco / El chile de Tabasco – Tabasco pepper
  • El cacao – Cocoa 
  • La capuchina de jardín – Garden nasturtium
  • La verbena de limón – Lemon verbena
  • El ají picante – Chili pepper
  • El ají dulce – Sweet chili
  • Las semillas de chía – Chia seeds

Caribbean Spices 

  • La pimienta de Jamaica – Allspice
  • Bayas molidas de pimienta de Jamaica – Ground Jamaican allspice berries
  • El polvo de arrurruz – Arrowroot powder
  • El chile cítrico caribeño – Caribbean citrus chili
  • El chile habanero – Habanero chilis 
  • Las flores de Jamaica – Hibiscus blossoms
  • La maza de hoja – Blade maze
  • Las hojuelas de cebolla verde – Green onion flakes
  • Los cebollinos secos – Dried Scallions
  • La mezcla de limón y ajo de Trinidad – Trinidad lemon garlic blend

Asian Spices

  • El anís estrellado – Star anise
  • El jengibre – Ginger
  • Los granos de pimienta Sichuan – Szechuan peppercorns
  • La soya – Soy 
  • Las semillas de hinojo – Fennel seeds
  • La semilla de anís – Anise seed 
  • La sal negra – Black salt
  • El ajo – garlic 
  • El macis – Maze
  • La nuez moscada – Nutmeg
  • El azafrán – Saffron
  • El ajo negro – Black garlic
  • La nuez de Areca – Areca nut
  • La canela – Cinnamon
  • El clavo – Clove
  • La especia de manzana – Apple spice
  • La albahaca – Basil
  • La pimienta blanca – White pepper
  • La pimienta verde – Green pepper
  • La hierba de limón / La citronela – Lemongrass
  • La lima de Makrut – Makrut lime

Middle Eastern Spices

  • El polvo de asafétida – Asafoetida powder
  • El comino de prado negro – Black caraway seed 
  • La alcaravea – Caraway 
  • El mirto – Myrtle 
  • La pimienta de Alepo – Aleppo pepper
  • El hisopo bíblico – Biblical hyssop
  • El tomillo silvestre – Wild thyme
  • La alfalfa – Alfalfa
  • La semilla de apio – Celery seeds
  • El perifollo – Chervil

Indian Spices

  • El polvo de curry – Curry powder
  • El polvo de curry caliente / picoso – Hot curry powder
  • La hoja del curry – Curry leaf
  • El cardamomo – Cardamom
  • El polvo de Colombo – Colombo powder
  • El cilantro – Coriander
  • La raíz de regaliz – Licorice root (+asia)
  • Los granos de pimienta blanca – White pepper corns
  • La pimienta negra – Black pepper
  • La cúrcuma – Turmeric

Mediterranean Spices

  • El hinojo – Fennel
  • El comino negro – black cumin
  • Las hojas de laurel turcas – Turkish bay leaves
  • Las hierbas a la italiana – Italian herb seasoning
  • El estante superior – Top shelf
  • El curry masala francés – French masala curry
  • Especia Za’atar – Za’atar spice
  • Las hierbas provenzales – Herbs of Provence
  • El comino – Cumin
  • Las hojas de laurel – Bay leaves
  • El orégano – Oregano
  • Comino en grano – Grained cumin
  • El romero – Rosemary
  • El perejil – Parsley
  • Las alcaparras – Capers
  • La menta de campo – Field mint
  • La menta verde – Spearmint
  • La menta – Mint
  • El apio silvestre – Wild celery
  • Las finas hierbas – Fine herbs
  • El laurel – laurel
  • La hoja de salvia – Sage leaf
  • El anís verde – Green anise

African Spices

  • Las semillas de sésamo – Sesame seeds
  • El tamarindo – Tamarind
  • El ají largo – Long pepper 
  • La albahaca azul africana – African blue basil
  • La pimienta negra africana – African negro pepper
  • La pimienta de cocodrilo – Alligator pepper
  • La nuez moscada de Jamaica – Jamaican nutmeg
  • La pimienta de Guinea – Guinea pepper (Grains of paradise)
  • El tomillo – Thyme

European Spices

  • Paprika picosa húngara – Hungarian hot paprika
  • Paprika dulce húngara – Hungarian sweet paprika
  • La semilla de amapola – Poppy seed
  • El apio del monte – Lovage
  • El estragón francés – French tarragon
  • La mezcla de piri piri Mozambique – Piri piri Mozambique Blend 
  • La ruda – Rue
  • El azafrán – Saffron
  • El rábano picante – Horseradish 
  • Las bayas de enebro – Juniper berries
  • El ajo asado – Roasted garlic
  • La manzanilla – Chamomile
  • El bálsamo – Balm

Spices from Oceania

  • La semilla de acacia – Wattle seed
  • La especia tahitiana polinesia – Polynesian Tahitian Spice
  • La mezcla de cítrico picante – Zesty citrus blend
  • El jengibre nativo – Native ginger
  • La pimienta de la montaña – Mountain pepper
  • La pimienta dorriga – Dorrigo pepper
  • El arbusto de pimienta de pincel – Brush pepper bush
  • La pimienta alpina – Alpine pepper 

Miscellaneous Spices in Spanish

  • El condimento estilo bahía – Bay style seasoning 
  • Las especias cajún – Cajun spice
  • El polvo de lima de Gumbo – Gumbo file powder
  • El ajo californiano – California garlicEl comino de prado – Caraway seed
  • La pimienta de cayena – Cayenne seeds
  • El polvo de chile – Chili powder
  • El polvo de chile rojo – Red Chili
  • El eneldo – Dill
  • Los granos de pimienta de cuatro colores – Four color peppercorns 
  • La semilla de mostaza – Mustard seed
  • La mostaza – Mustard
  • La sal de mar – Sea salt
  • El cremor de tártaro – Cream of tartar
  • El cebollín – Chive
  • El ajenjo – Absinthe / wormwood
  • Las especias calentadoras – Mulling spices
  • La especia salada – Savory spice
  • El estragón – Tarragon 
  • El polvo de cáscara de naranja – Orange zest
  • El lúpulo – Hops
  • Las endrinas – Sloe berries
  • El lirio seco – Dried lily
  • El regaliz – Licorice
  • La semilla de cilantro – Coriander seed

Spice Up Your Spanish!

Now that you have all the vocabulary to know spices in Spanish, you need to practice so you remember them in the future. To do just that, you can take a class with our friendly, native Spanish-speaking teachers at Homeschool Spanish Academy! Practice talking about spices in Spanish by signing up for a free trial class today!

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Nicole Canún
Nicole Canún
Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy
Blogger, content creator, and marketer. Proudly Mexican. Been to 30 countries. I love learning from different cultures and trying their cuisines. Obsessed with Asia. Fluent in Spanish and English, not so much in French.
Nicole Canún
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