jalea
/xaˈlea/feminine
The English word jelly is translated into Spanish as jalea. Wiktionary also lists yeli.
Meaning: dessert made by boiling gelatin (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| jalea | /xaˈlea/ | feminine |
| yeli | /ʝeli/ (from spelling rules) | US, feminine |
The term refers to a dessert made by boiling gelatin.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term jalea can be heard in countries such as Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela to refer to jam or jelly. The form yeli is a US-specific variant.
How do you pronounce it?
/xaˈlea/
Did you know?
- While jalea is used for fruit preserves, the wobbly dessert made from animal collagen is more commonly called gelatina.
- The word jalea is a direct linguistic relative of the English word 'gelatin', as both stem from the same Latin root 'gelu' meaning 'frost' or 'ice'.
- In certain Latin American contexts, jalea might be used specifically for high-quality fruit jellies, distinguishing them from more common 'mermeladas'.
Examples in context
- Deseo café, tostadas y jalea.I want coffee, toast, and jelly.This sentence is useful for practicing how to order coffee, toast and jalea.Tatoeba #2267117 by cueyayotl, translation #2267116 by _undertoad
- Me encanta la gelatina de fresa.I love strawberry jelly.
- No me gusta la gelatina transparente.I don't like clear jelly.
- La jalea de fresa está muy rica.The strawberry jelly is very delicious.
- ¿Quieres comer jalea de uva con el postre?Do you want to eat grape jelly with dessert?
Example conversation
María and Javier are eating dessert at home.
- MaríaJavier, ¿te gusta esta jalea de naranja?Javier, do you like this orange jelly?
- JavierSí, María, está muy dulce.Yes, María, it is very sweet.
- MaríaMe alegra que te guste tanto.I am glad you like it so much.
- JavierEs una jalea excelente.It is an excellent jelly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “jelly” translations and entries jalea, yeli, 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 jalea, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
