mate

MAH-teh

nounmA2

mate (traditional South American drink)?The specific hot drink made from yerba mate leaves

Also:gourd (container for the drink)?The specific cup used to drink mate

📝 In Action

En Argentina, es costumbre compartir un mate entre amigos.

In Argentina, it is customary to share a mate among friends.

Necesito calentar agua para el mate antes de irme.

I need to heat water for the mate before leaving.

Word Connections

Synonyms

infusión (infusion/brew)

Common Collocations

tomar mate – to drink mate
cebar mate – to prepare/serve mate

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun

Even though it refers to a tea, 'mate' is always treated as a masculine word (el mate), never feminine.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing the drink and the cup

Mistake: "Sometimes learners forget that 'mate' can refer to both the entire drink experience and the physical gourd cup itself."

Correction: Context usually makes it clear, but if you mean the leaves, use 'yerba mate'. If you mean the cup, you can specify 'el recipiente para mate'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Cultural Note

Sharing mate is a social ritual. The person preparing it ('el cebador') drinks the first one and then passes it around using the same cup and straw ('bombilla').

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: mate

Question 1 of 2

Which meaning of 'mate' is usually associated with a social gathering in Buenos Aires?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

yerba mate(yerba mate herb) - noun

bombilla(mate straw) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'mate' masculine or feminine?

'Mate' is always a masculine noun ('el mate') when referring to the drink or checkmate. When used as an adjective (meaning 'matte'), it changes to match the noun it describes.

Is 'mate' common everywhere in the Spanish-speaking world?

No. The meaning referring to the drink is very common in the Southern Cone (Argentina, Uruguay, etc.) but is rarely used in Spain or Mexico, where the word might only be recognized in the context of chess or describing a dull finish.