Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| jugo | /ˈxuɡo/ | Latin America, masculine |
| zumo | /ˈθumo/ /ˈsumo/ |
Spain, masculine |
This refers to a beverage made of juice. To specify that you want juice with ice, use the phrase con hielo. If you want to request juice without sugar, use sin azúcar. In some Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in the Caribbean, the phrase jugo natural is used to mean "freshly squeezed juice." You can ask if a juice is fresh by asking ¿Es jugo natural?
Which one should you use?
While both words mean juice, an English speaker should use jugo in the Americas and zumo in Spain to sound natural.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, jugo is the standard term. In Spain, zumo is the standard term. In Mexico and some parts of Central America, the word refresco can refer to freshly squeezed fruit juices or bottled and carbonated fruit beverages similar to soda.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of jugo is jugos, and the plural form of zumo is zumos.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈxuɡo/
Did you know?
- The word zumo has a surprising connection to the Arabic language, originating from the word zūm which means 'juice' or 'sap'.
- In some regions, the term jugo is used in the phrase sacarle el jugo to mean 'getting the most out of something', similar to the English 'squeezing' a situation.
- In Spain, zumo is strictly for drinks, but jugo is used to describe the liquid inside a piece of fruit or the 'juiciness' of a steak.
Examples in context
- ¿Te gusta el jugo?Do you like juice?This sentence is useful for asking if someone likes juice.Tatoeba #1932227 by hayastan, translation #1643242 by Dark
- Voy a hacer un jugo.I am going to make a juice.This sentence is useful for stating an intention to make a juice.Tatoeba #2306892 by hayastan, translation #11960160 by JPDavidson
- Mi hermano tomó jugo.My brother drank juice.This sentence is useful for describing what someone drank.Tatoeba #1950112 by marcelostockle, translation #12903542 by mexicanhere
- Me gustaría un jugo de naranja, por favor.I would like an orange juice, please.
- ¿Podrías traerme un vaso de zumo de manzana?Could you bring me a glass of apple juice?
- En el restaurante, siempre pido un jugo natural de maracuyá.At the restaurant, I always order a fresh passion fruit juice.
- jugo de manzana con hieloApple juice with ice
- jugo de toronja sin azúcarGrapefruit juice without sugar
- 145 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are having breakfast at home.
- JavierElena, ¿quieres un poco de jugo?Elena, do you want some juice?
- ElenaSí, por favor, Javier.Yes, please, Javier.
- JavierAquí tienes tu jugo de naranja.Here is your orange juice.
- ElenaMuchas gracias, está delicioso.Thank you very much, it is delicious.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “juice” translations and entries jugo, zumo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries jugo, zumo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
