taza
/ˈtaθa/feminine
In Spanish, the English word 'mug' is translated as taza. Wiktionary also lists jícara and pocillo.
Meaning: large cup (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| taza | /ˈtaθa/ /ˈtasa/ |
feminine |
| jícara | /ˈxikaɾa/ | feminine |
| pocillo | /poˈθiʝo/ | masculine |
The word taza refers to a mug with a handle. If you want to be specific and refer to a 'coffee mug', you can use the expression taza de café.
Which one should you use?
taza is the most common and versatile term used for both a standard cup and a larger mug. In contrast, pocillo typically refers to a smaller, often more delicate cup or a small mug used for espresso or specific beverages.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, tazón is used to refer to a bigger-sized mug. In Mexico and Central America, jícara refers to a traditional small vessel, often made from a dried gourd, used for drinking.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of taza is tazas, which uses the feminine plural article las (e.g., las tazas).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtaθa/
Did you know?
- The word taza is not originally Latin but was borrowed from Andalusian Arabic, which in turn took it from Middle Persian.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a taza can refer to a specific unit of measurement in recipes, regardless of the actual size of the physical cup used.
- While taza is universal, using tazón in Spain often implies a bowl large enough to eat cereal from, rather than just a coffee mug.
Examples in context
- Su taza es roja.His mug is red.This sentence is useful for describing the color of a taza.Tatoeba #12531850 by Shishir, translation #6587561 by mojeanin
- Dejé caer tu taza.I dropped your mug.This sentence is useful for describing an action involving a taza.Tatoeba #10065389 by manufrutos, translation #10064864 by meshbags
- Hay café en la taza.There's coffee in the mug.This sentence is useful for describing the contents of a taza.Tatoeba #1609303 by marcelostockle, translation #12995889 by araneo
- Por favor, sírvame el café en una taza.Please serve me the coffee in a mug.
- Sirve la cerveza fría en una jarra de cristal.Serve the beer cold in a glass mug.
- Quiero un café en mi taza favorita.I want a coffee in my favorite mug.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are in the kitchen preparing tea.
- ElenaJavier, ¿me pasas esa taza blanca?Javier, can you pass me that white mug?
- JavierClaro, aquí tienes tu taza.Sure, here is your mug.
- ElenaGracias, esta taza es muy grande.Thanks, this mug is very large.
- JavierSí, es perfecta para el té.Yes, it is perfect for tea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mug” translations and entries taza, jícara, pocillo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries jícara, pocillo, taza, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
