hierbabuena
/ˌʝeɾbaˈbwena/feminine
Spearmint in Spanish is hierbabuena.
Hierbabuena is used specifically to refer to the plant species Mentha spicata (spearmint).
Meaning: Mentha spicata (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of hierba (herb) and buena (good), meaning "good herb".
Which one should you use?
While hierbabuena specifically refers to spearmint, the general term menta is used to refer to mint in a broader sense or can specifically refer to peppermint.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a feminine noun, it is used with the feminine article la to form la hierbabuena (the spearmint).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌʝeɾbaˈbwena/
Did you know?
- In some Caribbean culinary traditions, hierbabuena is a vital ingredient for seasoning black beans, a usage that goes beyond the sweet confectionery uses of mint in English-speaking cultures.
- The word buena in hierbabuena doesn't just mean 'good' in quality, but historically referred to the plant's perceived 'beneficial' or medicinal properties.
- While hierbabuena is a single word for the plant, using hierba buena as two words can be used as a general description for any herb that is of high quality.
Examples in context
- La hierbabuena huele muy bien.Spearmint smells really good.This sentence is useful for describing the scent of hierbabuena.Tatoeba #9687991 by Shishir, translation #10113821 by DJ_Saidez
- ¿Tienes té de hierbabuena? Quisiera uno, por favor.Do you have spearmint tea? I'd like one, please.
- Necesito un poco de hierbabuena para el té.I need a little bit of spearmint for the tea.
- Añade la hierbabuena fresca al cóctel.Add the fresh spearmint to the cocktail.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are in the kitchen preparing drinks.
- Sofía¿Tienes hierbabuena para hacer la limonada?Do you have spearmint to make the lemonade?
- DanielSí, tengo un poco en la nevera.Yes, I have a little bit in the fridge.
- SofíaPerfecto, la hierbabuena le dará mucho sabor.Perfect, the spearmint will give it a lot of flavor.
- DanielVoy a buscarla ahora mismo.I will go look for it right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spearmint” translations and entries hierbabuena, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
