Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tripa | /ˈtɾipa/ | feminine |
| mondongo | /monˈdonɡo/ | masculine |
The term tripa can refer to the food item tripe, but it is more commonly used to refer to an intestine or gut in a general anatomical sense. The word mondongo is used specifically for the food item or the popular stew made from tripe. Additionally, the plural form tripas is frequently used colloquially to refer to someone's guts or intestines.
Which one should you use?
While tripa is more anatomical and can refer to an intestine, mondongo is a culinary term used specifically for the food item or the stew.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Mondongo is the standard term for tripe in many Latin American countries, particularly in the Caribbean and parts of South America, where it often refers to the dish.
How does it change in a sentence?
Tripa is a feminine noun, while mondongo is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtɾipa/
Did you know?
- The etymology of tripa is so mysterious that linguists are unsure if it truly comes from Arabic or even Old Norse terms for 'turf' or 'sod'.
- In Mexico, tripas are often deep-fried until crunchy and sold as a popular street food snack, rather than just being used in stews.
- In some Spanish speaking regions, the phrase tener tripas is used as an idiom meaning to have the courage or 'guts' to do something difficult.
Examples in context
- ¡Me encanta la sopa de bofe de mi abuela!I love my grandmother's tripe soup!
- La tripa es muy barata en el mercado.Tripe is very cheap at the market.
- Él compró tripa para hacer un guiso.He bought tripe to make a stew.
- No me gusta el sabor de la tripa.I do not like the taste of tripe.
Example conversation
A couple is deciding what to cook for lunch.
- María¿Quieres comer tripa hoy, Daniel?Do you want to eat tripe today, Daniel?
- DanielNo, prefiero comer carne roja.No, I prefer to eat red meat.
- MaríaEstá bien, buscaré otra cosa en la cocina.That's fine, I will look for something else in the kitchen.
- DanielGracias, María, eres muy amable.Thanks, Maria, you are very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tripe” translations and entries tripa, mondongo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mondongo, tripa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
