albahaca
/albaˈaka/feminine
The Spanish word for basil is albahaca.
Meaning: herb (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun albahaca is feminine, so it is used with the feminine article la (e.g., la albahaca).
How do you pronounce it?
/albaˈaka/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking Caribbean cultures, albahaca is associated with spiritual cleansing and is used in rituals to ward off negative energy.
- The word albahaca is a linguistic traveler that arrived in Spain via the Arabic word al-ḥabaq.
- In some Spanish-speaking households, placing a pot of albahaca on a windowsill is considered a way to invite good luck and prosperity into the home.
Examples in context
- No añadas cilantro ni albahaca. Solo orégano.Don't add coriander or basil. Just oregano.This sentence shows how to distinguish between different herbs like coriander and basil.Tatoeba #13845744 by Seael, translation #13846203 by araneo
- La pasta que comí llevaba demasiada albahaca.The pasta I ate had too much basil.This sentence illustrates a situation where a dish contains too much basil.Tatoeba #7060440 by mervert1, translation #7060433 by mervert1
- La albahaca, la salvia, el romero, el tomillo y el orégano son hierbas finas populares.Basil, sage, rosemary, thyme and oregano are popular herbs.This sentence lists several popular fine herbs, including basil.Tatoeba #6389622 by mervert1, translation #1490328 by niceguydave
- Podrías por favor agregar un poco de albahaca a la salsa?Could you please add some basil to the sauce?
- Voy a condimentar la ensalada con hierba de olor.I'm going to season the salad with basil.
- ¡Qué delicioso huele este platillo con albahaca fina!How delicious this dish with fine basil smells!
Example conversation
María and Javier are cooking a Mediterranean dish together.
- María¿Tienes albahaca fresca en la nevera?Do you have fresh basil in the fridge?
- JavierSí, la compré ayer en el mercado.Yes, I bought it yesterday at the market.
- MaríaPerfecto, la albahaca le dará un buen sabor.Perfect, the basil will give it a good flavor.
- JavierEs la mejor hierba para esta salsa.It is the best herb for this sauce.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “basil” translations and entries albahaca, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries albahaca, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
