azafrán
/aθaˈfɾan/masculine
Saffron in Spanish is azafrán.
azafrán refers to the spice used in cooking. If you want to describe something as having an orange-yellow colour, you use the phrase de azafrán. To describe the action of adding saffron to something, use the verb azafranar.
Meaning: spice (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
azafrán is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/aθaˈfɾan/
Did you know?
- Because saffron is extremely expensive, the term oro rojo or 'red gold' is often used in Spanish-speaking markets to describe high-quality azafrán.
- While many English words for spices come from Latin or Greek, azafrán traveled from Aramaic through Arabic into Spanish, bypassing the classical Romance roots.
- Spanish cuisine differentiates between azafrán and colorante, a cheaper food coloring powder that mimics the color but not the flavor.
Examples in context
- La paella tradicional española se cocina con azafrán, un ingrediente valioso y sabroso.Traditional Spanish paella is cooked with saffron, a valuable and flavorful ingredient.
- En la cocina dominicana, utilizamos la flor de azafrán para darle color y sabor a nuestros platos criollosIn Dominican cuisine, we use saffron flower to add color and flavor to our traditional dishes.
- El azafrán es muy caro.Saffron is very expensive.
- Añade un poco de azafrán a la paella.Add a little saffron to the paella.
- Este azafrán tiene un aroma increíble.This saffron has an incredible aroma.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are cooking in a kitchen.
- Alejandro¿Tienes el azafrán para la receta?Do you have the saffron for the recipe?
- ElenaSí, lo tengo aquí en la despensa.Yes, I have it here in the pantry.
- AlejandroPerfecto, el azafrán le dará un color muy bonito.Perfect, the saffron will give it a very beautiful color.
- ElenaTienes razón, Alejandro, quedará delicioso.You're right, Alejandro, it will be delicious.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “saffron” translations and entries azafrán, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries azafrán, CC BY-SA 4.0.
