lisa
/ˈlisa/
The Spanish word for grey mullet is lisa.
The word lisa is commonly used in culinary contexts to refer to the fish as an ingredient or a dish.
Meaning: type of fish (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun lisa is feminine, so its plural form is las lisas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlisa/
Did you know?
- The word lisa also means 'smooth' in Spanish. This creates a linguistic link to the fish's sleek, slippery scales.
- The term lisa is a direct borrowing from the Catalan word llisa, illustrating how Mediterranean linguistic influences shaped Spanish vocabulary in coastal areas.
- In some parts of the Spanish-speaking world, particularly in South America, the name for this fish might shift to almogastre depending on the local dialect.
Examples in context
- La lisa es muy sabrosa.The grey mullet is very tasty.
- Compré una lisa fresca en el mercado.I bought a fresh grey mullet at the market.
- ¿Prefieres la lisa o la dorada?Do you prefer grey mullet or sea bream?
Example conversation
Daniel and María are deciding what to cook for dinner.
- Daniel¿Qué vamos a cocinar hoy?What are we going to cook today?
- MaríaTengo una lisa que compramos ayer.I have a grey mullet that we bought yesterday.
- Daniel¡Perfecto! La lisa a la sal es ideal.Perfect! Salt-baked grey mullet is ideal.
- MaríaEntonces, yo la preparo.Then, I will prepare it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry lisa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lisa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
