anís
/aˈnis/masculine
The English word 'anise' is translated into Spanish as anís. Wiktionary also lists matalahúva.
Meaning: plant (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| anís | /aˈnis/ | masculine |
| matalahúva | /matalaˈuba/ | feminine |
The term refers to the anise plant.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Puerto Rico, ñampí can be used to refer to anise.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word anís is a masculine noun. The word matalahúva is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈnis/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the scent of anís is used in traditional folklore to ward off 'mal aire' or bad energy.
- In Spain, anís is most commonly associated with a potent distilled spirit rather than the seed or plant.
- The Arabic roots of matalahúva come from a phrase meaning 'grain of sweetness', which provides a much more appetizing description than its literal Spanish translation.
Examples in context
- El té de anís lo puedes comprar en la farmacia.You can buy anise tea at the pharmacy.This sentence is useful for learning how to mention buying anise tea at a pharmacy.Tatoeba #3988589 by gianich73, translation #12224603 by Miktsoanit
- Mezcla una cucharadita de anís en el postre.Mix a teaspoon of anise into the dessert.
- El aroma del anís resulta muy agradable.The aroma of anise is very pleasant.
- El anís estrellado tiene un sabor más intenso que el anís convencional.Star anise has a stronger flavor than regular anise.
- Los roscos de anís están deliciosos.The anise-flavored donuts are delicious.
- El anís tiene un aroma muy fuerte.Anise has a very strong aroma.
- Necesito comprar semillas de anís para la receta.I need to buy anise seeds for the recipe.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are in the kitchen preparing a traditional dessert.
- Sofía¿Tienes el anís para el postre, Alejandro?Do you have the anise for the dessert, Alejandro?
- AlejandroSí, lo tengo aquí en la despensa.Yes, I have it here in the pantry.
- SofíaPerfecto, el olor del anís es delicioso.Perfect, the smell of the anise is delicious.
- AlejandroEs cierto, ayudará mucho al sabor.It's true, it will help the flavor a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “anise” translations and entries anís, matalahúva, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries anís, matalahúva, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
