verduras
/beɾduɾas/from spelling rules
The English word "veggies" is translated into Spanish as verduras.
In more specific contexts, you might encounter crucíferas, which is the term used specifically for cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.
Which one should you use?
You may see the term hortalizas used in more formal contexts. hortalizas specifically refers to vegetables used for cooking, frequently including leafy vegetables.
How do you pronounce it?
/beɾduɾas/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a traditional side dish of verduras is often served as escabeche, where the vegetables are preserved in a mixture of vinegar and oil.
- The word verduras shares the same root as verde, the Spanish word for 'green', reflecting the historical association between vegetables and the color of foliage.
- Although verduras and hortalizas are often interchangeable, a botanical hortaliza can technically include fruits like tomatoes and peppers, whereas verdura usually implies green leafy plants.
Examples in context
- Las verduras son esenciales para mantener una dieta equilibrada.Vegetables are essential to maintain a balanced diet.
- En el huerto se cultivan diferentes tipos de hortalizas.Many different types of vegetables are grown in the garden.
- ¿Te gustan los vegetales en tus hamburguesas?Do you like veggies in your burgers?
- Las crucíferas son excelentes fuentes de antioxidantes y vitaminas.Cruciferous vegetables are excellent sources of antioxidants and vitamins.
- Me gustan mucho las verduras.I really like veggies.
- Necesito comprar más verduras hoy.I need to buy more veggies today.
- Las verduras están muy frescas.The veggies are very fresh.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are shopping at a local market.
- Lucía¿Qué verduras quieres comprar, Alejandro?What veggies do you want to buy, Alejandro?
- AlejandroQuiero comprar zanahorias y espinacas.I want to buy carrots and spinach.
- LucíaPerfecto, esas verduras son saludables.Perfect, those veggies are healthy.
- AlejandroSí, vamos a buscarlas ahora.Yes, let's go look for them now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry verduras, 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.
