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jugo

/HOO-go/

juice

A clear glass filled with vibrant orange juice, sitting next to two whole oranges on a simple background.

When referring to fruit or vegetable liquid, jugo means "juice."

jugo(noun)

mA1

juice

?

liquid from fruit or vegetables

Also:

fruit drink

?

general beverage

📝 In Action

¿Quieres un vaso de jugo de naranja?

A1

Do you want a glass of orange juice?

Este jugo verde es muy saludable para empezar el día.

A2

This green juice is very healthy to start the day.

Prefiero el jugo natural al embotellado.

A2

I prefer fresh juice to bottled juice.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • zumo (juice (common in Spain))
  • néctar (nectar (often thicker juice))

Common Collocations

  • jugo de manzana – apple juice
  • jugo natural – fresh juice

💡 Grammar Points

Always Masculine

Even though 'jugo' ends in 'o', remember it is always a masculine noun, meaning you use 'el' or 'un' before it: 'el jugo'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Jugo vs. Zumo

In most of Latin America, 'jugo' is the standard word for juice. In Spain, 'zumo' is far more common, although 'jugo' is still understood.

A white plate holding a slice of roast meat covered in rich, dark brown gravy.

In the context of cooked meat, jugo translates to "gravy" or "sauce."

jugo(noun)

mB2

gravy

?

sauce from cooked meat

,

essence

?

figurative meaning

Also:

sap

?

liquid in plants/trees

📝 In Action

El chef usó el jugo de la carne para hacer una salsa deliciosa.

B2

The chef used the meat's gravy/juices to make a delicious sauce.

Tienes que sacarle el jugo a la experiencia universitaria.

C1

You have to get the most out (literally: 'take the juice out') of the university experience.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • jugo de carne – meat gravy/juices
  • sacarle el jugo a algo – to get the most out of something

Idioms & Expressions

  • sacarle el jugo a algo – To exploit something fully or get the maximum benefit from it.

💡 Grammar Points

Figurative Use

When used figuratively, 'jugo' often suggests extracting the core value or benefit from a situation, much like squeezing a fruit.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: jugo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'jugo' in its figurative meaning, meaning 'to get the most out of something'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

jugoso(juicy) - adjective
jugosidad(juiciness) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'jugo' countable? Can I say 'dos jugos'?

Yes, although 'jugo' is technically a mass noun (like 'water'), Spanish speakers frequently use it as a countable noun to mean 'two servings of juice' or 'two cartons of juice'. For example, 'Quiero dos jugos, por favor' (I want two juices, please).

How is the 'J' in 'jugo' pronounced?

The 'J' in 'jugo' is pronounced like the 'H' in the English word 'house'—a strong, breathy sound coming from the back of the throat. It sounds like 'HOO-go'.