Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| lima | /ˈlima/ | feminine |
| limón | /liˈmon/ | Mexico, masculine |
The term refers to the green citrus fruit. You can also use lima as a noun adjunct to describe the color lime green, as in verde lima. If you want to say something is containing lime or lime juice, use the phrase de lima. Additionally, the verb encalar means to treat something with lime.
Which one should you use?
In many Spanish-speaking countries, lima is the specific word for the green citrus fruit. However, in Mexico, the word limón is commonly used to refer to the green citrus fruit (lime), while in other regions, limón typically refers to a yellow lemon.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, limón is the term for the green citrus fruit and the specific variety limón mexicano is used to denote a regional lime. In Chile, the term limón de Pica is used to denote a particular type of lime.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word lima is a feminine noun, while limón is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlima/
Did you know?
- The word lima has a complete double meaning in Spanish. While it refers to the citrus fruit, it is also the word for a metal tool used to smooth surfaces, like a nail file.
- The Spanish words lima and limón share a common ancestor in the Sanskrit word nimbū. This journey took the word through Persian and Arabic before it reached Spain.
- Because lima is also the name of the capital of Peru, using the word in a sentence can create an ambiguity between a fruit and a city.
Examples in context
- Este limón no está maduro.This lime isn't ripe.This sentence shows how to use limón to talk about the ripeness of the fruit.Tatoeba #8390362 by ManuelML, translation #8416188 by cromwellt
- Sería agradable si tuvieras una rodajita de lima para echar en mi agua helada.It would be nice if you had a wedge of lime I could squeeze into my icewater.This sentence illustrates the use of lima when asking for a wedge of fruit for a drink.Tatoeba #5862179 by albrusgher, translation #1953487 by _undertoad
- Me gusta cómo combinan los colores violetas y granates con los amarillos, los naranjas y los verdes lima.I like how the violets and garnets combine with the yellows, oranges and lime greens.This sentence demonstrates how lima can be used to describe the color lime green.Tatoeba #13627803 by Seael, translation #13630912 by araneo
- Me gustaría una limonada con limón verde, por favor.I would like a lemonade with lime, please.
- ¿Podrías pasarme la lima para el mojito, por favor?Could you pass me the lime for the mojito, please?
- Esta limonada está deliciosa con un poco de limón criollo.This lemonade tastes delicious with a little bit of lime.
- El sabor del limón de Pica es incomparable.The flavor of the Pica lime is unparalleled.
Example conversation
At a grocery store, Javier and Lucía are looking for ingredients.
- Javier¿Compramos una lima para el té?Should we buy a lime for the tea?
- LucíaSí, esa lima se ve muy fresca.Yes, that lime looks very fresh.
- JavierToma la lima verde de allá.Take the green lime over there.
- LucíaPerfecto, la voy a poner en el carrito.Perfect, I am going to put it in the cart.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lime” translations and entries lima, limón, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lima, limón, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
