Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| frijol | /fɾiˈxol/ /fɾiˈʃol/ |
masculine |
| habichuela | /abiˈt͡ʃwela/ | |
| haba | /ˈaba/ | feminine |
| judía | /xuˈdia/ | Spain, feminine |
| alubia | /aˈlubja/ | feminine |
| poroto | /poˈɾoto/ | South America, masculine |
| caraota | /kaɾaˈota/ | Venezuela, feminine |
| xpelón | /espeˈlon/ /ʃpeˈlon/ |
masculine, uncommon |
The term refers to the seed of a Fabaceae plant. While many words exist for different varieties, frijol serves as a general term for many types of beans. For example, the word garbanzo is used to refer to garbanzo beans in both formal and informal contexts.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word often depends on the specific variety of bean. haba specifically refers to the broad bean or fava bean, whereas frijol is more general. Other specific forms include alubia and habichuela.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional variations are common: judía is commonly used in Spain. In many South American countries, such as Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, the word poroto is used. In Venezuela, the word caraota is specifically used for beans, often referring to black beans. In Colombia, Venezuela and parts of the Caribbean, caraota is also the term for black beans.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word frijol is a masculine noun. To refer to beans in the plural, you can use frijoles. Other nouns change to their plural forms to refer to multiple beans: habichuelas (from habichuela), alubias (from alubia) and judías (from judía).
How do you pronounce it?
/fɾiˈxol/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word judía has a history so mysterious that linguists believe it may actually stem from the Latin word for 'Jew' rather than any botanical term.
Examples in context
- Una alubia puede responder todas las preguntas.A bean can answer all the questions.This sentence illustrates the use of the form alubia.Tatoeba #576586 by Shishir, translation #574563 by DJ_Saidez
- El frijol es muy nutritivo.The bean is very nutritious.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofia are deciding what to cook for dinner.
- JavierTengo un bote de frijol en la cocina.I have a jar of beans in the kitchen.
- Sofía¡Perfecto! Podemos hacer una sopa.Perfect! We can make a soup.
- JavierSolo necesito comprar algunos tomates.I just need to buy some tomatoes.
- SofíaYo voy contigo al mercado, Javier.I will go with you to the market, Javier.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bean” translations and entries frijol, habichuela, haba, judía, alubia, poroto, caraota, xpelón, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries frijol, haba, habichuela, judía, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
