dieta
/dee-EH-tah/
diet
A healthy and regulated eating plan is often called a dieta.
dieta(noun)
diet
?regulated eating plan
eating plan
?general food schedule
,slimming plan
?for weight loss
📝 In Action
Estoy a dieta porque quiero comer más sano.
A2I am on a diet because I want to eat healthier.
Mi doctor me recomendó una dieta baja en sal.
B1My doctor recommended a low-salt diet to me.
La dieta mediterránea incluye mucho pescado y aceite de oliva.
B1The Mediterranean diet includes a lot of fish and olive oil.
💡 Grammar Points
Using the right preposition
When you talk about following a diet, you must use the preposition 'a': 'estar a dieta' (to be on a diet). You cannot just say 'estar dieta'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'estar en dieta'
Mistake: "Estoy en dieta."
Correction: The correct phrase is 'Estoy a dieta.' Think of 'a' as meaning 'in the process of' or 'following the path of'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Not just for weight loss
While often used for weight loss, 'dieta' can simply mean your regular, habitual way of eating (like the 'dieta' of a vegetarian or the 'dieta' of a country).
When traveling, a daily allowance for expenses is referred to as dieta.
dieta(noun)
per diem
?daily allowance for expenses
stipend
?set daily payment for business travel
📝 In Action
La empresa ofrece una dieta de 75 dólares diarios para cubrir gastos de hotel y comida.
B2The company offers a per diem of 75 dollars daily to cover hotel and food expenses.
Los políticos reciben una dieta por asistir a las sesiones del parlamento.
C1Politicians receive a stipend for attending parliamentary sessions.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Context
This meaning is almost exclusively used in professional, governmental, or corporate settings to refer to money given to cover daily expenses, usually when traveling.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dieta
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'dieta' to mean a financial allowance, not a food plan?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'estar a dieta' y 'hacer dieta'?
Both phrases mean 'to be on a diet' or 'to go on a diet.' 'Estar a dieta' (to be on a diet) emphasizes the current state or condition. 'Hacer dieta' (to do a diet) emphasizes the action of starting or undertaking the plan. Both are common and interchangeable in many contexts.
Does 'dieta' always imply weight loss?
No. While it often refers to a weight loss plan, 'dieta' simply means a structured way of eating. You can talk about a 'dieta saludable' (healthy diet) or a 'dieta vegetariana' (vegetarian diet) without any mention of losing weight.