col verde
/kol beɾde/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English phrase "collard greens" can be translated into Spanish as col verde. Wiktionary also lists berza silvestre and repollo forrajero.
Meaning: plant (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| col verde | /kol beɾde/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| berza silvestre | /beɾθa silbestɾe/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /beɾsa silbestɾe/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| repollo forrajero | /repoʝo foraxeɾo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| col abierta | /kol abjeɾta/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
The term refers to the edible plant. The specific term grelos is used to describe young collard greens or the sprouts of the plant.
Which one should you use?
col verde is the default form. Other variations include the feminine forms berza silvestre and col abierta, as well as the masculine form repollo forrajero.
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms col verde, berza silvestre and col abierta are feminine, while repollo forrajero is masculine.
Did you know?
- The word col can be a homonym in Spanish, as it is also a common contraction of 'con el' meaning 'with the'.
- In Spain, the term grelos refers specifically to the young shoots of the plant and is a staple in Galician cuisine.
- While col verde is the general term, the use of berza is far more common in northern Spain than in Latin America.
Examples in context
- Me gustaría comprar berza para la cena de esta noche.I would like to buy collard greens for tonight's dinner.
- Las berzas son muy saludables y deliciosas.Collard greens are very healthy and delicious.
- Me encanta el caldo gallego con grelos.I love Galician stew with collard greens.
- Las hojas de col son ricas en vitaminas y minerales.Collard greens are rich in vitamins and minerals.
- La col verde es muy nutritiva.The collard green is very nutritious.
- Compré una col verde en el mercado.I bought a collard green at the market.
- ¿Prefieres la col verde o el brócoli?Do you prefer collard greens or broccoli?
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are deciding what to cook for dinner.
- LucíaDaniel, ¿tienes col verde en la cocina?Daniel, do you have collard greens in the kitchen?
- DanielSí, compré una col verde ayer.Yes, I bought some collard greens yesterday.
- LucíaPerfecto, prepararé una cena saludable.Perfect, I will prepare a healthy dinner.
- DanielMe parece una idea excelente, Lucía.That sounds like an excellent idea, Lucía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “collard greens” translations and entries col verde, 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 berza, col, forrajero, repollo, silvestre, verde, CC BY-SA 4.0.
