leche de soja
/ˌlet͡ʃe de ˈsoxa/
The Spanish phrase for "soya milk" is leche de soja.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of leche (milk), de (of) and soja (soy).
Which one should you use?
While leche de soja is the standard term, you will often see bebida de soja on product labels. This is used to comply with regulations that distinguish plant-based drinks from dairy milk. In many Latin American countries, leche de soya is used instead of leche de soja to refer to the soy plant.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌletʃe de ˈsoxa/
Did you know?
- While leche specifically means 'milk', the Spanish language uses it in the idiom dar leche, which can mean to hit someone or to have good luck depending on the country.
- The word soja is an indirect loanword that entered Spanish via Dutch, which had borrowed it from a dialectal Japanese word for soy sauce.
- In Spain, the legal shift from leche de soja to bebida de soja was a result of a battle between the dairy lobby and the European Union's labeling laws.
Examples in context
- Me gustaría una taza de leche de soja, por favorI would like a cup of soya milk, please
- ¿Tiene leche de soya en lugar de leche de vaca?Do you have soya milk instead of cow's milk?
- ¿Has probado alguna vez la leche vegetal? La leche de soja es una opción deliciosaHave you ever tried plant-based milk? Soya milk is a delicious option
- ¿Venden leche de soja en este supermercado?Do they sell soy milk in this supermarket?
- No tengo leche de soja en la nevera.I don't have soy milk in the fridge.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are ordering breakfast at a cafe.
- ElenaHola, ¿me pones un latte con leche de soja?Hi, can I have a latte with soy milk?
- JavierClaro, Elena. ¿Quieres azúcar también?Sure, Elena. Do you want sugar too?
- ElenaNo, gracias. Solo la leche de soja.No, thanks. Just the soy milk.
- JavierPerfecto, Javier te trae el pedido ahora.Perfect, Javier will bring your order now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry leche de soja, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, leche, soja, CC BY-SA 4.0.
