cacahuate
/kakaˈwate/Mexico
The English phrase "peanut" is translated into Spanish as cacahuate. Wiktionary also lists maní and cacahuete.
Meaning: a legume resembling a nut (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cacahuate | /kakaˈwate/ | Mexico |
| maní | /maˈni/ | Latin America, masculine |
| cacahuete | /kakaˈwete/ | Spain, masculine |
The term refers to the legume that resembles a nut.
Which one should you use?
cacahuate is used in Mexico, while cacahuete is the term used in Spain.
Is it said differently in some regions?
maní is widely used throughout Latin America. In Mexico, cacahuate is the common choice, whereas in Spain, cacahuete is the standard term.
How does it change in a sentence?
maní and cacahuete are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/kakaˈwate/
Did you know?
- The term tlālcacahuatl in Nahuatl literally translates to 'earth cocoa bean', a clever way to describe a bean that grows underground.
- Although they mean the same thing, using cacahuete in a country that prefers maní can immediately signal to a listener that the speaker is from Spain.
Examples in context
- ¡La mantequilla de maní está a la venta!The peanut butter is on sale!This sentence is useful for seeing how to talk about peanut butter using maní.Tatoeba #9050833 by rafaeldejesus8199, translation #9050835 by rafaeldejesus8199
- Tom se hizo un sándwich de mantequilla de maní.Tom made himself a peanut butter sandwich.This sentence shows how to use maní in the context of a sandwich.Tatoeba #1198295 by marcelostockle, translation #1164432 by CK
- En su primera ecografía Lucía parecía un cacahuete.Lucía looked like a peanut in her first ultrasonography.This sentence uses cacahuete in a metaphorical sense.Tatoeba #3666374 by Seael, translation #3666378 by Seael
- Me gustan los cacahuetes tostados.I like roasted peanuts.
- El cocinero utilizó cacahuetes en la receta.The chef used peanuts in the recipe.
- ¿Quieres un poco de maní?Do you want some peanuts?
- Mi hermana compró una bolsa de maní salado.My sister bought a bag of salted peanuts.
- A mí me encanta comer cacahuate con chile.I love eating chili peanuts.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are snacking in the living room.
- AlejandroLucía, ¿quieres un poco de cacahuate?Lucía, do you want some peanut?
- LucíaSí, pero que no tengan sal.Yes, but not the salted ones.
- AlejandroTengo cacahuate natural aquí.I have natural peanut here.
- LucíaPerfecto, dame un puñado, gracias.Perfect, give me a handful, thanks.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “peanut” translations and entries cacahuate, maní, cacahuete, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cacahuete, maní, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
