crema
/KRAY-mah/
cream
Crema as a dairy product, often used as a topping.
crema(noun)
cream
?dairy product
whipped cream
?as 'crema batida' or 'nata montada'
,custard
?dessert filling (e.g., 'crema pastelera')
📝 In Action
¿Quieres un poco de crema en tu café?
A1Do you want a little cream in your coffee?
Esta tarta lleva mucha crema de chocolate.
A2This cake has a lot of chocolate filling/custard.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Even though 'crema' ends in -a, it is always a feminine word, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Nata vs. Crema
In Spain, 'nata' often refers specifically to heavy dairy cream, while 'crema' is a broader term for any thick, creamy substance (food, cosmetic, or soup).
This type of crema refers to a cosmetic or medicinal lotion.
📝 In Action
Me puse crema hidratante después de la ducha.
A2I put on moisturizing cream after the shower.
No olvides llevar la crema solar a la playa.
A2Don't forget to take the sun cream to the beach.
Crema also describes a thick, pureed soup, like cream of tomato.
📝 In Action
De primero, vamos a tomar una crema de calabaza caliente.
B1For the starter, we are going to have a hot pumpkin cream soup.
⭐ Usage Tips
Soup Distinction
In Spanish menus, 'crema' usually means the soup is thick and blended, while 'sopa' implies a broth with chunks or noodles.
Crema is also used as an adjective to describe the color cream.
📝 In Action
Necesito pintar la pared de color crema.
B1I need to paint the wall cream-colored.
Compramos unos zapatos crema muy elegantes.
B2We bought some very elegant cream shoes.
💡 Grammar Points
Color Invariable
When used as a color, 'crema' usually acts like a noun describing the color, so it typically does not change its ending to match the noun it describes (it stays 'crema' whether the noun is singular, plural, masculine, or feminine).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Changing the Ending
Mistake: "Unos zapatos cremas."
Correction: Unos zapatos crema. (The color name remains singular and feminine/invariable.)
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: crema
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'crema' to talk about a thick, blended soup?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'crema' the same as 'nata'?
They are related, but not always the same. 'Crema' is a general term for any thick, creamy substance (food, cosmetic, or soup). 'Nata' specifically refers to the fatty part of milk, like heavy cream or clotted cream, especially in Spain.
Does 'crema' ever mean 'ice cream'?
No. While 'crema' is a key ingredient, the word for ice cream is generally 'helado' (Spain/Mexico) or 'mantecado' (Caribbean/parts of South America).