laurel
/low-RELL/
bay leaf
In cooking, 'laurel' refers to a bay leaf used to add flavor to dishes.
📝 In Action
Pon una hoja de laurel en la salsa para que tenga más sabor.
A2Put a bay leaf in the sauce so it has more flavor.
El jardín tiene un seto de laurel muy alto.
B1The garden has a very tall laurel hedge.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Number
This is a masculine word. Use 'el laurel' for one and 'los laureles' for more than one.
⭐ Usage Tips
Kitchen Essential
In Spanish-speaking countries, 'laurel' is one of the most basic herbs. You will see 'hoja de laurel' (bay leaf) in almost every stew or soup recipe.
The word 'laurel' is also used to represent success or honors, often symbolized by a laurel wreath.
📝 In Action
Después de ganar el premio, no se durmió en sus laureles y siguió trabajando.
B2After winning the prize, he didn't rest on his laurels and kept working.
El equipo regresó con los laureles del triunfo.
C1The team returned with the honors of victory.
💡 Grammar Points
Plural for Success
When talking about success or honors, this word is almost always used in the plural: 'los laureles'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Avoiding Laziness
Use the phrase 'dormirse en los laureles' to encourage someone to keep working hard after a win.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: laurel
Question 1 of 1
What are you doing if you 'te duermes en los laureles'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'laurel' the same as a bay leaf used in cooking?
Yes! In Spanish, 'laurel' refers to both the tree and the specific leaf you use to season food.
Is it 'el laurel' or 'la laurel'?
It is always masculine: 'el laurel'.