Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cilantro | /θiˈlantɾo/ /siˈlantɾo/ |
masculine |
| coriandro | /koˈɾjandɾo/ | masculine |
| culantro | /kuˈlantɾo/ | masculine |
This term refers to the *Coriandrum sativum* plant. Depending on the context, it can refer to the fresh herb leaves, the botanical plant or the dried seeds.
Which one should you use?
In most Spanish-speaking contexts, cilantro refers specifically to the fresh leaves used as an herb. In contrast, coriandro is used in a more botanical or technical sense to refer to the plant itself or the dried seeds. You should also be aware of culantro, which refers to a different plant (*Eryngium umbellatum*) known as sawtooth coriander. It looks similar to cilantro but has serrated leaves and a much stronger flavor.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Cilantro is the most common way to refer to the herb in Mexico and most of Latin America. In the Canary Islands, the plant is known as perejil chino.
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms provided are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/θiˈlantɾo/
Did you know?
- The root of cilantro can be traced back to the Ancient Greek word koríandron.
- Spanish speakers in the Caribbean often use culantro to describe a plant that is botanically unrelated to the *Coriandrum sativum* species.
Examples in context
- No añadas cilantro ni albahaca. Solo orégano.Don't add coriander or basil. Just oregano.This sentence is useful for expressing what ingredients should or should not be added to a dish using cilantro.Tatoeba #13845744 by Seael, translation #13846203 by araneo
- No se olvide de traer cilantro, chiles y jengibre.Don't forget to bring coriander, chilli peppers, and ginger.This sentence is useful for reminding someone to bring specific ingredients including cilantro.Tatoeba #10198857 by Seael, translation #8999092 by shekitten
- ¿Me pasas el cilantro para agregarlo a la salsa?Can you pass me the coriander to add it to the sauce?
- ¿Tienes culantro? Lo necesito para el guiso.Do you have coriander? I need it for the stew.
- Hoy preparé un delicioso guacamole con cilantro fresco.Today, I made a delicious guacamole with fresh coriander.
- El cilantro es muy fresco.The coriander is very fresh.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are shopping for ingredients at a market.
- SofíaMateo, ¿compraste el cilantro?Mateo, did you buy the coriander?
- MateoSí, lo tengo en la bolsa.Yes, I have it in the bag.
- SofíaPerfecto, lo usaremos para la salsa.Perfect, we will use it for the sauce.
- MateoMe parece una excelente idea.That sounds like an excellent idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coriander” translations and entries cilantro, coriandro, culantro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cilantro, coriandro, culantro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
