sabalote
/sabalote/from spelling rulesmasculine
The English word milkfish is translated into Spanish as sabalote. Wiktionary also lists pez de leche.
Meaning: Chanos chanos (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sabalote | /sabalote/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| pez de leche | /ˌpeθ de ˈlet͡ʃe/ /ˌpes de ˈlet͡ʃe/ |
masculine |
Both sabalote and pez de leche refer to the fish species *Chanos chanos*.
How does it change in a sentence?
The words are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/sabalote/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word for 'fish' changes depending on its state. You use pez when the fish is alive and swimming, but you must use pescado once it has been caught to be eaten.
- The word pez is a homonym in Spanish. While it most commonly means 'fish', it is also the word for 'pitch' or 'resin'.
- The term sabalote is not used universally across the Spanish-speaking world, as it is a specific regional term found in parts of Central America.
Examples in context
- El sabalote es muy común en estas aguas.The milkfish is very common in these waters.
- ¿Vendes sabalote fresco en este mercado?Do you sell fresh milkfish in this market?
- Compré un sabalote para la cena de hoy.I bought a milkfish for tonight's dinner.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are looking at a fish menu in a restaurant.
- SofíaMira, este plato lleva sabalote.Look, this dish has milkfish.
- MateoNo conozco ese pescado, Sofía.I don't know that fish, Sofía.
- SofíaEs parecido al chanos chanos.It is similar to chanos chanos.
- MateoEntonces voy a pedirlo.In that case, I'll order it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “milkfish” translations and entries pez de leche, 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.
