hierba de limón
/jeɾba de limon/from spelling rules
Lemongrass is hierba de limón in Spanish.
The term refers to the plant Cymbopogon citratus.
Meaning: Cymbopogon citratus (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and Central America, the term zacate de limón is commonly used instead.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, hierba de limón is used not just for cooking, but as a traditional calming tea to treat anxiety and insomnia.
- The word limón did not come from Latin, but entered Spanish via Arabic from an even older Persian word limu.
- While 'lemon' in English refers to a specific citrus, the Spanish word limón can often refer to the broader category of limes in many Latin American countries.
Examples in context
- ¿Has probado el zacate de limón en la cocina mexicana?Have you tried lemongrass in Mexican cuisine?
- Necesito comprar hierba de limón.I need to buy lemongrass.
- La hierba de limón es muy fresca.The lemongrass is very fresh.
- Agrega un poco de hierba de limón al té.Add a little lemongrass to the tea.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are cooking a Thai dish together.
- DanielLucía, ¿tenemos hierba de limón?Lucía, do we have lemongrass?
- LucíaSí, está en el refrigerador, Daniel.Yes, it is in the refrigerator, Daniel.
- DanielPerfecto, voy a picarla ahora.Perfect, I am going to chop it now.
- LucíaCorta la hierba de limón muy fina.Cut the lemongrass very finely.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, hierba, limón, CC BY-SA 4.0.
