cilantro
/θiˈlantɾo/masculine
The English phrase cilantro is translated into Spanish as cilantro. Wiktionary also lists coriandro and culantro.
Meaning: leaves of the coriander plant (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cilantro | /θiˈlantɾo/ /siˈlantɾo/ |
masculine |
| coriandro | /koˈɾjandɾo/ | masculine |
| culantro | /kuˈlantɾo/ | masculine |
| recaíto | /rekaito/ (from spelling rules) | Dominican Republic, masculine |
The word refers to the leaves of the coriander plant.
Which one should you use?
While cilantro refers to the common coriander herb, culantro refers to a different plant (often called sawtooth herb) that is common in tropical Latin American cuisine. Additionally, coriandro is a rare form of the word.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Dominican Republic, you may encounter the term recaíto.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word cilantro is a masculine noun and is typically used with the masculine article el.
How do you pronounce it?
/θiˈlantɾo/
Did you know?
- Depending on the country, the smell of cilantro is described using words that imply 'freshness' or 'soap', reflecting a genetic trait shared by speakers across cultures.
- The word cilantro is a linguistic doublet of culantro, meaning they both originated from the same Latin root but evolved into different forms.
- The word cilantro descends from the Ancient Greek word κορίανδρον, meaning 'coriander'.
Examples in context
- El cilantro es muy fresco.The cilantro is very fresh.
- Necesito comprar un poco de cilantro.I need to buy a little bit of cilantro.
- Añade el cilantro al final de la receta.Add the cilantro at the end of the recipe.
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are preparing a meal together in the kitchen.
- ElenaAlejandro, ¿tienes el cilantro?Alejandro, do you have the cilantro?
- AlejandroSí, lo tengo aquí en la mesa.Yes, I have it here on the table.
- ElenaPerfecto, pícalo para los tacos.Perfect, chop it for the tacos.
- AlejandroClaro que sí, Elena.Of course, Elena.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cilantro” translations and entries cilantro, coriandro, culantro, recaíto, 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cilantro, coriandro, culantro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
