pepinillos
/pepiniʝos/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'pickles' is translated into Spanish as pepinillos.
pepinillos refers specifically to small cucumbers that have been preserved in vinegar and brine. If you wish to specify this type of preservation, you can use the phrase pepinillos en vinagre. To refer to pickled foods in a general sense, such as pickled onions, carrots or olives, the term encurtidos is used. A jar of pickles is called a Bote de encurtidos.
What does it mean word for word?
The word pepinillos is a diminutive of pepino (cucumber), literally meaning 'little cucumbers'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of the word is pepinillo. The verb used to describe the process of pickling or preserving food is encurtir.
How do you pronounce it?
/pepiniʝos/
Did you know?
- Despite the meaning of pepinillos, Spanish speakers often use the word curtido to describe a specific fermented cabbage dish in El Salvador, similar to sauerkraut.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, encurtidos are served as a picoteo, a style of eating small appetizers shared among friends before a main meal.
- In some Latin American countries, a pepino might refer to a variety of squash or gourd rather than the cucumber used for pepinillos.
Examples in context
- En el supermercado, necesito comprar unos encurtidos para la ensalada.At the supermarket, I need to buy some pickles for the salad.
- ¿Podrías pasarme los pepinillos, por favor?Could you pass me the pickles, please?
- Me gustan los pepinillos con la hamburguesa.I like pickles with the hamburger.
- ¿Quieres más pepinillos en tu sándwich?Do you want more pickles in your sandwich?
- Compré un frasco de pepinillos ayer.I bought a jar of pickles yesterday.
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are making sandwiches in the kitchen.
- ElenaAlejandro, ¿hay pepinillos en la nevera?Alejandro, are there any pickles in the fridge?
- AlejandroSí, están en el estante de arriba.Yes, they are on the top shelf.
- ElenaPerfecto, voy a preparar mi sándwich.Perfect, I am going to prepare my sandwich.
- AlejandroDime si necesitas ayuda con los pepinillos.Tell me if you need help with the pickles.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
