kétchup
/ˈket͡ʃup/masculine
The English phrase "ketchup" can be translated into Spanish as kétchup. Wiktionary also lists salsa de tomate and ketchup.
Meaning: tomato-vinegar based sauce (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| kétchup | /ˈket͡ʃup/ | masculine |
| salsa de tomate | /ˌsalsa de toˈmate/ | |
| ketchup | /ˈkedt͡ʃup/ /ˈket͡ʃup/ |
masculine |
| cátsup | /katsup/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| képchup | /kebt͡ʃup/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
The term refers to a tomato-vinegar based sauce.
Which one should you use?
While kétchup refers specifically to the condiment, salsa de tomate is a more general term for any tomato-based sauce, such as those used for pasta.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The spelling cátsup is a common phonetic adaptation used frequently in Mexico.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a masculine noun, so it is preceded by the masculine article el.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈketʃup/
Did you know?
- The word kétchup actually traces its roots back to the Malay word kicap, which referred to a fermented fish sauce rather than a tomato condiment.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, if you ask for salsa de tomate, you might receive a warm sauce for pasta instead of the cold condiment for fries.
Examples in context
- ¿Dónde está el ketchup?Where's the ketchup?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of the ketchup.Tatoeba #4718923 by Shishir, translation #4494792 by CK
- ¿Dónde pusiste el ketchup?Where did you put the ketchup?This sentence is useful for asking where someone put the ketchup.Tatoeba #1556062 by hayastan, translation #1553310 by CK
- Tom se olvidó del ketchup.Tom forgot the ketchup.This sentence is useful for noting that someone forgot the ketchup.Tatoeba #1713575 by marcelostockle, translation #1496801 by Spamster
- ¿Puedes pasarme el ketchup, por favor?Can you pass me the ketchup, please?
- Si te gusta, puedo traerte un poco de catsup para tus papas.If you like, I can bring you some catsup for your fries.
- Voy a agregar un poco de cátchup a mi hamburguesa.I'm going to add some cátchup to my hamburger.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a burger restaurant.
- JavierSofía, ¿tienes el kétchup?Sofía, do you have the ketchup?
- SofíaNo, no lo veo por ninguna parte.No, I don't see it anywhere.
- JavierYo lo buscaré en la cocina.I will look for it in the kitchen.
- SofíaGracias, Javier, eres muy amable.Thanks, Javier, you are very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ketchup” translations and entries kétchup, salsa de tomate, ketchup, 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 ketchup, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
