Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mora | /ˈmoɾa/ | feminine |
| zarzamora | /ˌθaɾθaˈmoɾa/ /ˌsaɾsaˈmoɾa/ |
feminine |
Both words refer to the fruit, but they are used differently depending on the level of specificity or the region. Mora can serve as a generic term for various types of berries or specifically for blackberries. If you want to specify a wild blackberry, you can use the phrase mora silvestre.
Which one should you use?
Mora is a general term that can refer to many types of berries or brambles. In contrast, zarzamora is a more specific term that refers specifically to the blackberry fruit from the bramble plant.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, mora typically refers to the mulberry fruit rather than a blackberry.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both mora and zarzamora are feminine nouns. To form the plural, add -s to create moras and zarzamoras.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmoɾa/
Did you know?
- The word mora is a homonym in Spanish and can refer to a fruit, a 'delay' in legal terms, or a 'female Moor'.
- The word mora is derived from the Latin word for 'mulberry', but it was actually a linguistic error where the plural form was mistaken for a feminine singular noun.
Examples in context
- El panadero hizo un pastel de moras delicioso.The baker made a delicious blackberry pie.This sentence demonstrates the use of mora to describe a blackberry pie.Tatoeba #10244278 by Seael, translation #6907493 by swolesuki
- Me encanta comer moras en el postre.I love eating blackberries for dessert.
- Ayer, compré unas zarzamoras deliciosas en el mercado.Yesterday, I bought some delicious blackberries at the market.
- La mora está muy dulce.The blackberry is very sweet.
- Compré una mora en el mercado.I bought a blackberry at the market.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are eating breakfast in the kitchen.
- Lucía¿Quieres una mora, Javier?Do you want a blackberry, Javier?
- JavierSí, gracias, Lucía.Yes, thanks, Lucía.
- LucíaEsta mora es de buena calidad.This blackberry is of good quality.
- JavierEs verdad, tiene un sabor intenso.It is true, it has an intense flavor.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “blackberry” translations and entries mora, zarzamora, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mora, zarzamora, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
