tomate
/toˈmate/masculine
The English word tomato is tomate in Spanish. Wiktionary also lists jitomate.
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tomate | /toˈmate/ | masculine |
| jitomate | /xitoˈmate/ | masculine |
tomate is a masculine noun used to refer to the fruit.
Which one should you use?
While tomate is the standard term used in most Spanish-speaking countries, jitomate is a regionalism primarily found in Mexico.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, such as Mexico and Central America, jitomate is commonly used for tomato.
How do you pronounce it?
/toˈmate/
Did you know?
- In Mexico, you must distinguish between a jitomate, which is typically red, and a tomate, which refers to the small, green husk tomatoes.
- The word jitomate literally translates to 'navel tomato' in the original Nahuatl, referring to the shape of the fruit.
- Because tomatoes are native to the Americas, the Spanish language provided the primary bridge for this Nahuatl word to enter most other European languages.
Examples in context
- Es sopa de tomate.It’s tomato soup.Tatoeba #9993880 by manufrutos, translation #10010526 by Swalis
- Mary come un tomate.Mary eats a tomato.Tatoeba #9458333 by ignacio, translation #6743312 by Eccles17
- Quiero sopa de tomate.I like tomato soup.Tatoeba #7946576 by arh, translation #7946008 by CK
- Me gusta el tomateI like tomato
- El jitomate está maduroThe tomato is ripe
- Voy a preparar una salsa con tomates frescos.I'm going to make a sauce with fresh tomatoes.
- ¿Cuántos jitomates necesitamos para la ensalada?How many tomatoes do we need for the salad?
- Me encanta el tomate cherry, es muy dulce.I love cherry tomatoes, they are very sweet.
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are in the kitchen preparing a salad.
- Mateo¿Tienes un tomate para la ensalada?Do you have a tomato for the salad?
- ElenaSí, aquí tienes un tomate rojo.Yes, here is a red tomato.
- MateoGracias, este tomate se ve muy fresco.Thanks, this tomato looks very fresh.
- ElenaDe nada, vamos a cortarlo ahora.You're welcome, let's cut it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tomato” translations and entries tomate, jitomate, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries jitomate, tomate, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
