Inklingo

frijol

free-HOAL/fɾiˈxol/

frijol means bean in Spanish (the edible seed of a legume plant).

bean

Also: kidney bean
NounmA1
Mexico and Central AmericaArgentina, Chile, UruguaySpainPuerto Rico and Dominican Republic
A small pile of dried, shiny black beans resting on a clean wooden surface.

📝 In Action

Me gusta comer arroz con frijoles todos los días.

A1

I like to eat rice and beans every day.

Debes remojar el frijol en agua antes de cocinarlo.

A2

You should soak the bean in water before cooking it.

Los frijoles negros son una base importante en la dieta caribeña.

B1

Black beans are an important staple in the Caribbean diet.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • habichuela (bean (Caribbean/Spain))
  • poroto (bean (Southern Cone))
  • alubia (bean (Spain))
  • judía (bean (Spain))

Common Collocations

  • frijoles refritosrefried beans
  • sopa de frijolbean soup
  • frijoles de la ollafreshly boiled beans

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser el frijol en el arrozto be the odd one out or the person who ruins a good situation
  • ganarse los frijolesto earn a living or bring home the bacon

Vocabulary Collections

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "frijol" in Spanish:

beankidney bean

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: frijol

Question 1 of 3

Which of these is the correct way to order beans in a restaurant?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
frijolillo(small bean)Noun
frijolal(bean field)Noun
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

Derived from the Old Spanish word 'fisol', which comes from the Latin 'faseolus'. This ultimately traces back to the Greek word 'phasēlos', describing the shape of a boat that the bean pod resembles.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: feijãoItalian: fagiolo

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are there so many words for 'bean' in Spanish?

Spanish is spoken in many regions where indigenous languages and local traditions influenced food names. For example, 'poroto' comes from the Quechua word 'purutu'.

Is 'frijol' always plural?

No, you can use the singular when talking about a single seed or the plant species, but in the context of food, the plural 'frijoles' is much more common.

Can 'frijol' mean green beans?

Usually, 'frijol' refers to the dried seed. Green beans (string beans) are often called 'ejotes' or 'judías verdes' depending on the country.