mandarina
/mandaˈɾina/feminine
The Spanish word for tangerine is mandarina. Wiktionary also lists naranja tangerina and tanjarina.
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mandarina | /mandaˈɾina/ | feminine |
| naranja tangerina | /naɾanxa tanxeɾina/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| tanjarina | /tanxaɾina/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
mandarina is used to refer to the fruit. It is derived from the word mandarin. Note that the related words naranja and anaranjado are used when referring to the colour.
Which one should you use?
mandarina is the general term for the fruit, but in English contexts it is often used interchangeably with the term mandarin orange. You may also see the forms naranja tangerina or tanjarina.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the plural, use mandarinas.
How do you pronounce it?
/mandaˈɾina/
Did you know?
- While naranja and mandarina are related fruits, the Spanish word for grapefruit, toronja, is actually a linguistic cousin of the Catalan word for orange, taronja.
- While mandarina refers to the fruit, the word mandarín refers to a high-ranking official in the historical Chinese imperial bureaucracy.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, mandarinas are traditionally associated with the winter season and Christmas, often appearing in holiday displays.
Examples in context
- Tomó una mandarina.He took a tangerine.This sentence shows the use of mandarina.Tatoeba #9713228 by JSKabylie, translation #11263149 by DJ_Saidez
- La tangerina se considera generalmente una subespecie de la mandarina.The tangerine is generally considered to be a subspecies of mandarin oranges.Tatoeba #10603526 by Adelpa, translation #10619391 by sangelo
- Compré una mandarina muy dulce.I bought a very sweet tangerine.
Example conversation
Javier and María are preparing a fruit salad in the kitchen.
- JavierMaría, ¿tienes una mandarina?María, do you have a tangerine?
- MaríaSí, hay una en el frutero.Yes, there is one in the fruit bowl.
- JavierPerfecto, voy a pelar la mandarina.Perfect, I'm going to peel the tangerine.
- MaríaGracias, Javier.Thank you, Javier.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tangerine” translations and entries mandarina, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries naranja, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
