dientes de ajo
/djentes de axo/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'garlic cloves' is translated into Spanish as dientes de ajo.
If you need to specify that they have had their skin removed, you can use the term dientes de ajo pelados for 'peeled garlic cloves'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'teeth of garlic', because diente means 'tooth'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun diente is masculine. To say 'one garlic clove', use the masculine singular article un diente de ajo. To refer to multiple cloves, such as 'some garlic cloves', use the masculine plural form unos dientes de ajo.
Did you know?
- In certain regional slang, the word ajo can be used as a truncated version of the profanity carajo, though this is unrelated to the vegetable.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, garlic is traditionally used in folk remedies to ward off the 'evil eye' or bad spirits, not just for flavor.
- While dientes de ajo is the standard term, Spanish speakers often refer to a whole head of garlic as a cabeza de ajo, or 'head of garlic'.
Examples in context
- La receta requiere dos dientes de ajoThe recipe calls for two garlic cloves
- Añade tres dientes de ajo pelados y picadosAdd three peeled and chopped garlic cloves
- Echa dos ajos picados en la sarténPut two chopped garlic cloves in the pan
- Añade algunos dientecitos de ajo a la salsaAdd some small garlic cloves to the sauce
- Necesito tres dientes de ajo para la sopa.I need three garlic cloves for the soup.
- Pela los dientes de ajo antes de picarlos.Peel the garlic cloves before chopping them.
- Esa receta lleva muchos dientes de ajo.That recipe uses many garlic cloves.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are preparing dinner in the kitchen.
- Lucía¿Cuántos dientes de ajo quieres, Daniel?How many garlic cloves do you want, Daniel?
- DanielPon solo dos dientes de ajo en la sartén.Put only two garlic cloves in the pan.
- LucíaEstá bien, yo los pico ahora mismo.Okay, I will chop them right now.
- DanielGracias, Lucía, eres muy rápida.Thanks, Lucía, you are very fast.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ajo, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
