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gelatina

heh-lah-TEE-nah/xe.laˈti.na/

“gelatina” means “jelly” in Spanish (the jiggly dessert (UK English)).

jelly, Jell-O

Also: gelatin
NounfA1
Mexico
A bright red, translucent mound of jiggly jelly on a simple white plate.

📝 In Action

El niño quiere una gelatina de fresa de postre.

A1

The boy wants a strawberry jelly for dessert.

Para que el pastel quede firme, necesitas añadir gelatina sin sabor.

B1

For the cake to stay firm, you need to add unflavored gelatin.

La consistencia de este dulce es como la de la gelatina.

A2

The consistency of this candy is like that of jelly.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • jalea (jelly (often used for fruit preserves or clear jams))

Antonyms

  • sólido (solid)

Common Collocations

  • gelatina sin sabor – unflavored gelatin
  • gelatina de sabores – flavored jelly
  • hacer gelatina – to make jelly

Idioms & Expressions

  • estar como una gelatina – to be shaking like a leaf or to be very nervous

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "gelatina" in Spanish:

gelatin→jell-o→jelly→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: gelatina

Question 1 of 3

Which of these would you eat as a jiggly dessert?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
gelatinoso(gelatinous/jelly-like) — Adjective
congelar(to freeze) — Verb
gel(gel) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Italian word 'gelatina', which is derived from 'gelata' (iced/frozen), coming from the Latin 'gelare' (to freeze).

First recorded: 18th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: gélatineEnglish: gelatin

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'gelatina' used for hair gel?

No, for hair gel you should use the word 'gel' or 'gomina'. 'Gelatina' is almost exclusively used for food or the chemical substance.

What is the difference between 'gelatina' and 'jalea'?

'Gelatina' is the firm, jiggly dessert. 'Jalea' is usually a clear fruit spread (like the jelly you put on peanut butter sandwiches) or a thicker fruit syrup.

Is it a masculine or feminine word?

It is feminine ('la gelatina'), even though it represents a substance that can be solid or semi-liquid.