acelga
/aˈθelɡa/feminine
The English word chard is translated into Spanish as acelga.
acelga refers to the vegetable Beta vulgaris subsp. Cicla. In certain contexts, the term can also refer specifically to the stalks of the plant.
Meaning: Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, chard is known as acelga.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of acelga is acelgas.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈθelɡa/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word acelga entered the language via Arabic as-silqa, reflecting the significant influence of Moorish agriculture on the Iberian Peninsula.
- In many Spanish households, 'acelgas' are considered a 'comida de abuela', or 'grandmothers' food', because they are seen as a humble, nostalgic, and traditional staple.
- In traditional Spanish medicine, acelgas were historically believed to help treat respiratory issues and were often used in folk remedies as a poultice.
Examples in context
- Me gusta cocinar con acelga frescaI enjoy cooking with fresh chard
- Compré unas acelgas hermosas en el mercadoI bought some beautiful chard at the market
- Voy a preparar una sopa de acelgaI am going to make a chard soup
- Me gusta combinar la acelga con tomate y pepino en una ensaladaI like to combine chard with tomato and cucumber in a salad
- Incluyo acelga en mis batidos verdes para obtener más vitaminasI include chard in my green smoothies to get more vitamins
- Las acelgas son muy nutritivas.Chards are very nutritious.
- La acelga es muy nutritiva.Chard is very nutritious.
- Compré una acelga fresca en el mercado.I bought a fresh chard at the market.
- ¿Prefieres la espinaca o la acelga?Do you prefer spinach or chard?
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are planning a dinner menu.
- DanielElena, ¿qué verduras tenemos para la cena?Elena, what vegetables do we have for dinner?
- ElenaTengo un poco de acelga fresca.I have some fresh chard.
- DanielPerfecto, podemos cocinar la acelga con ajo.Perfect, we can cook the chard with garlic.
- ElenaMe parece una buena idea, Daniel.That sounds like a good idea, Daniel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chard” translations and entries acelga, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries acelga, CC BY-SA 4.0.
