dieta
“dieta” means “diet” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
diet
Also: eating plan, slimming plan
📝 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.
per diem
Also: stipend
📝 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.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: dieta
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'dieta' to mean a financial allowance, not a food plan?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin 'diaeta', which itself came from the Greek 'díaita', meaning 'way of life' or 'regimen'. Originally, it referred to a complete way of living, not just the food you eat, which is why it can still mean 'daily allowance' (a regulated amount).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.