berlín
“berlín” means “Berlin” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
Berlin
📝 In Action
Berlín es una ciudad con mucha historia.
A1Berlin is a city with a lot of history.
Viajamos a Berlín para visitar el Muro.
A2We traveled to Berlin to visit the Wall.
filled doughnut
Also: Berliner
📝 In Action
Quiero un berlín de crema para el postre.
B1I want a cream-filled doughnut for dessert.
En la panadería venden berlines frescos cada mañana.
B2The bakery sells fresh berliners every morning.
Vocabulary Collections
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: berlín
Question 1 of 2
If someone in Santiago, Chile, asks you if you want a 'berlín,' what are they most likely offering?
📚 More Resources
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word is a direct borrowing from German, referring to the capital city of Germany. The pastry and the historical carriage were both named after the city.
First recorded: The city name itself has Slavic roots, likely related to a word meaning 'swamp' or 'bear'.
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'berlín' mean both a city and a dessert?
The city came first! The dessert, which is a type of filled doughnut, is a variation of the German pastry known as a 'Berliner Pfannkuchen.' When this pastry was introduced to Spanish-speaking countries, especially in the Southern Cone, they simply adopted the short name 'berlín' for the sweet treat.
Is 'berlín' a feminine or masculine noun?
When referring to the pastry, it is masculine: 'el berlín'. When referring to the city, it is a proper noun, but if you need to use an article to describe it, it is usually treated as masculine (e.g., 'El moderno Berlín').