cacahuete
/kakaˈwete/Spain, masculine
The Spanish word for peanut is cacahuete. Wiktionary also lists maní and cacahuate.
Meaning: a legume resembling a nut (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cacahuete | /kakaˈwete/ | Spain, masculine |
| maní | /maˈni/ | Latin America, masculine |
| cacahuate | /kakaˈwate/ | Mexico |
The word refers to the legume commonly known as a peanut. You can use it to refer to the nut itself or as part of a phrase like mantequilla de maní to say peanut butter.
Which one should you use?
While all three words mean 'peanut', an English speaker should choose based on the specific region (Spain, Mexico or Latin America) to sound natural.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The choice of word depends on the location: cacahuete is the standard term used in Spain, cacahuate is the preferred term for peanut in Mexico and maní is the most common term for peanut in most of Latin America.
How does it change in a sentence?
cacahuete and maní are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/kakaˈwete/
Did you know?
Examples in context
- ¡La mantequilla de maní está a la venta!The peanut butter is on sale!This sentence shows how to use maní to talk about peanut butter being on sale.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 demonstrates the use of maní in the context of a peanut butter 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 to describe something that looks like a peanut.Tatoeba #3666374 by Seael, translation #3666378 by Seael
- Me encanta comer maní como merienda.I love eating peanuts as a snack.
- ¿Sabías que el maní es una buena fuente de proteínas?Did you know that peanuts are a good source of protein?
- Por favor, añade maní a la ensalada.Please add peanuts to the salad.
- ¿Me pasas los cacahuetes, por favor?Could you pass me the peanuts, please?
- No puedo resistirme a comer cacahuates mientras veo una película.I can't resist snacking on peanuts while watching a movie.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are deciding what snack to buy.
- Daniel¿Quieres comer un cacahuete?Do you want to eat a peanut?
- MaríaNo, prefiero comer una manzana.No, I prefer to eat an apple.
- DanielTengo una bolsa de cacahuete salado.I have a bag of salted peanut.
- MaríaEstá bien, dame algunos, Daniel.Alright, give me some, Daniel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “peanut” translations and entries cacahuete, maní, cacahuate, 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.
