uva
everyday, Mexico
A grape is an uva in Mexican Spanish, and the fruit is usually sold as uvas by the kilo. It is also called Uva pasa.
Meaning: small round fruit that grows in clusters (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| uva | everyday, Mexico |
| Uvas | plural |
| Uva pasa | raisin |
Raisins are pasas or uvas pasas. Wine is vino de uva and grape juice is jugo de uva.
How does it change in a sentence?
Uva is feminine, so you say la uva and unas uvas.
When do people say it?
At midnight on New Year's Eve Mexicans eat twelve uvas, one for each stroke of the clock, and make a wish for each.
Did you know?
- The New Year's Eve tradition of eating twelve grapes came to Mexico from Spain and is widely followed.
Examples in context
- Quiero un kilo de uvas.I want a kilo of grapes.
- Comemos doce uvas en Año Nuevo.We eat twelve grapes on New Year's.
- Prefiero el jugo de uva.I prefer grape juice.
Example conversation
Shopper Mónica buys fruit from vendor Don Beto in Mexico City.
- MónicaDon Beto, ¿cómo están las uvas?Don Beto, how are the grapes?
- Don BetoDulcecitas, llévese un kilo.Nice and sweet, take a kilo.
- MónicaSí, para año nuevo necesito doce.Yes, for New Year I need twelve.
