calabaza
/kalaˈbaθa/feminine
The Spanish word for pumpkin is calabaza. Wiktionary also lists calabazo.
Meaning: fruit of this plant (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| calabaza | /kalaˈbaθa/ /kalaˈbasa/ |
feminine |
| calabazo | /kalaˈbaθo/ /kalaˈbaso/ |
masculine |
The word calabaza is used to refer to the fruit of the pumpkin plant.
Which one should you use?
The feminine form calabaza refers to the vegetable, whereas the masculine form calabazo is used colloquially in some regions to mean a blow or a hit to the head.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the term calabaza de castilla refers to a specific variety of pumpkin. In Venezuela, the term auyama is used to refer to pumpkins and squashes. In Spain, you might hear calabaza de Halloween when referring to pumpkins used for carving during Halloween.
How does it change in a sentence?
calabaza is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/kalaˈbaθa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to use the masculine form calabazo when you mean the vegetable, as it refers to a physical strike to the head.
Did you know?
- In Spain, if someone tells you dar calabazas, they are not offering you a vegetable but are actually rejecting you or turning you down in a romantic context.
- The word calabaza has roots that may predate the arrival of Latin in the Iberian Peninsula, possibly coming from a Paleo-Hispanic language.
- Ancient speakers used the hollowed out calabaza as a natural water flask and musical instrument long before it became a staple of autumn cuisine.
Examples in context
- ¡Qué calabaza más grande!What a big pumpkin!This sentence is useful for practicing how to describe the size of a calabaza.Tatoeba #908788 by Shishir, translation #36069 by CK
- Mi calabaza fue la mejor.My pumpkin was the best.This sentence is useful for expressing that a calabaza was the best.Tatoeba #4623092 by cueyayotl, translation #2818965 by Hybrid
- Mi ingrediente secreto es la calabaza.My secret ingredient is pumpkin.This sentence is useful for talking about calabaza as a secret ingredient.Tatoeba #9184210 by rafaeldejesus8199, translation #9184217 by rafaeldejesus8199
- En otoño, disfruto de deliciosas sopas de calabaza.In autumn, I enjoy delicious pumpkin soups.
- Me gusta hacer pasteles de zapallo en invierno.I like to make pumpkin pies in winter.
- Siempre utilizo ahuyama para preparar ricas cremas.I always use pumpkin to prepare delicious creams.
- ¡Vamos a hacer unos deliciosos buñuelos de calabacita para la merienda!Let's make some delicious little pumpkin fritters for the snack!
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are in the kitchen preparing a meal.
- Daniel¿Dónde está la calabaza?Where is the pumpkin?
- MaríaEstá sobre la mesa, Daniel.It is on the table, Daniel.
- DanielGracias, María. Es una calabaza pequeña.Thanks, María. It is a small pumpkin.
- MaríaSí, pero es perfecta para la cena.Yes, but it is perfect for dinner.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pumpkin” translations and entries calabaza, calabazo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries calabaza, calabazo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
