Inklingo
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canela

kah-NEH-lah/kaˈnela/

cinnamon

Also: light brown
NounfA1
General
A few brown cinnamon sticks tied with a piece of twine next to a small pile of ground cinnamon powder.

📝 In Action

Me gusta ponerle un poco de canela a mi café.

A1

I like to put a little cinnamon in my coffee.

La tarta de manzana necesita una rama de canela.

A2

The apple pie needs a cinnamon stick.

Ella tiene una piel color canela preciosa.

B1

She has beautiful cinnamon-colored skin.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • marrón claro (light brown)

Common Collocations

  • canela molida – ground cinnamon
  • canela en rama – cinnamon stick
  • olor a canela – smell of cinnamon

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser canela en rama – to be of the highest quality or excellent

the best of the best

Also: top-notch
NounfB2informal
Spain
A shiny gold trophy with a red ribbon around it, sitting on a blue pedestal.

📝 In Action

Este vino que hemos comprado es canela en rama.

B2

This wine we bought is the best of the best.

Tu nueva canción es canela pura.

C1

Your new song is pure gold (excellent).

Ese delantero jugando es canela fina.

C1

That forward playing is top-notch.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • canela pura – pure excellence
  • canela fina – exquisite quality

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "canela" in Spanish:

cinnamon→light brown→top-notch→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: canela

Question 1 of 3

If someone says a movie is 'canela en rama', they mean:

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
acanelado(cinnamon-colored) — Adjective
canelón(cannelloni (tube-shaped pasta)) — Noun
canelero(cinnamon tree) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the French word 'cannelle', which comes from the Latin 'canna', meaning 'reed' or 'tube'. This describes the tube-like shape the bark takes when it dries.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: cannelleItalian: cannella

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'canela' used for the color brown in general?

No, it specifically refers to a light, reddish-brown color, similar to the spice. For dark brown, we use 'marrón' or 'café'.

Can I use 'canela' to describe a person?

Yes, but usually only to describe their skin tone (piel canela) or figuratively to say they are 'canela en rama' (excellent person).

How do I ask for a cinnamon stick in a shop?

You should ask for 'canela en rama'.