chía
/ˈt͡ʃia/feminine
The English word "chia" is translated into Spanish as chía. It is also spelled chan.
Meaning: Salvia hispanica (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| chía | /ˈt͡ʃia/ | feminine |
| chan | /ˈt͡ʃan/ | masculine, alternative form |
chía refers to the plant *Salvia hispanica*.
Which one should you use?
chía is the standard form, while chan is an alternative spelling of the same word.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a feminine noun, chía is typically preceded by the feminine article la (e.g., la chía).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtʃia/
Did you know?
- In ancient Aztec culture, chía was considered a strategic food for warriors because it provided sustained energy during long marches.
- The word chía is a linguistic relic from the Nahuatl language, the tongue once spoken by the Aztec Empire.
- In some traditional Mexican markets, you may still encounter older vendors who use the variant chan instead of the standard chía.
Examples in context
- La chía es muy nutritiva.Chia is very nutritious.
- Añade un poco de chía al yogur.Add a little bit of chia to the yogurt.
- Compré un paquete de chía orgánica.I bought a package of organic chia.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are making breakfast in the kitchen.
- Lucía¿Tienes chía para el desayuno?Do you have chia for breakfast?
- MateoSí, la chía está en la despensa.Yes, the chia is in the pantry.
- LucíaPerfecto, la usaré en mi batido.Perfect, I will use it in my smoothie.
- MateoEs una excelente idea, Lucía.It is an excellent idea, Lucía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chia” translations and entries chía, chan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chan, chía, CC BY-SA 4.0.
