palta
Chile
In Chile an avocado is a palta. Mexico and Spain use aguacate, which Chileans understand but rarely say.
Meaning: green fruit with a large pit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| palta | Chile |
| Aguacate | Mexico, Spain |
Chileans eat palta on bread, in salads and with hot dogs. A completo italiano is a hot dog topped with tomato, mashed avocado and mayonnaise.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Palta is also used in Peru, Argentina and Uruguay. It comes from the Quechua word for the fruit.
What mistakes should you avoid?
If you order aguacate in Chile, you may need to explain what you mean, so say palta.
Did you know?
- The Chilean completo italiano gets its name from the colors of the Italian flag: red tomato, green avocado and white mayonnaise.
Examples in context
- Quiero una palta para el pan.I want an avocado for the bread.
- La palta está madura.The avocado is ripe.
Example conversation
Isidora buys avocados at the market in Santiago.
- IsidoraBuenas, ¿a cuánto la palta?Hello, how much are the avocados?
- VendedorA dos mil el kilo.Two thousand a kilo.
- IsidoraDeme un kilo, por favor.Give me a kilo, please.
