leche materna
/ˌlet͡ʃe maˈteɾna/feminine
In Spanish, breast milk is leche materna. Wiktionary also lists apoyadura.
Meaning: milk produced by humans (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| leche materna | /ˌlet͡ʃe maˈteɾna/ | feminine |
| apoyadura | /apoʝaduɾa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
The phrase refers to milk produced by humans.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase leche materna is composed of leche (milk) and materna (maternal/mother's).
Which one should you use?
Leche materna is the standard term, whereas leche de pecho is a more colloquial way to refer to it.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, the term leche de seno is used for breast milk.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because leche is a feminine noun, the definite article used with this phrase is la (e.g., la leche materna).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌletʃe maˈteɾna/
Did you know?
- The word leche is used in the phrase darle leche a alguien, which in some contexts means to beat or hit someone.
- The word leche is used in several Spanish idioms to mean 'luck' or 'energy', such as the phrase tener leche meaning to be lucky.
- When discussing breastfeeding, a mother might not say she is 'giving' milk, but rather that she is 'amamantando' (nursing) the child, a verb that focuses on the act of suckling rather than the liquid itself.
Examples in context
- No bebe suficiente leche materna.She doesn't drink enough breast milk.This sentence is useful for showing how to use leche materna in a negative context regarding consumption.Tatoeba #1427742 by Espi, translation #266486 by papabear
- Para garantizar la salud del bebé, es recomendable alimentarlo exclusivamente con leche materna durante los primeros seis meses.To ensure the baby's health, it is advisable to exclusively feed them with breast milk for the first six months.
- ¿Le estás dando biberón o leche de pecho a tu bebé?Are you feeding your baby with a bottle or breast milk?
- La leche materna es muy nutritiva.Breast milk is very nutritious.
- El doctor recomendó solo leche materna.The doctor recommended only breast milk.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple discusses feeding their newborn baby.
- DanielMaría, ¿estás dando leche materna al bebé?María, are you giving breast milk to the baby?
- MaríaSí, Daniel, solo toma leche materna ahora.Yes, Daniel, he only takes breast milk now.
- DanielEs lo mejor para su salud.It is the best for his health.
- MaríaEstoy de acuerdo contigo.I agree with you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “breast milk” translations and entries leche materna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
