mates
MAH-tehs
📝 In Action
Todos los domingos preparamos unos buenos mates para compartir en el parque.
B1Every Sunday we prepare some good yerba mate to share in the park.
Necesito comprar mates nuevos porque los viejos se rompieron.
B2I need to buy new mate cups because the old ones broke.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Plural
Even though 'yerba' (herb) is feminine, the general term 'mate' (referring to the drink or the cup) is masculine, so we use 'los mates'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'té' instead of 'mate'
Mistake: "Quiero un té de yerba."
Correction: Quiero un mate. (It’s a specific category of drink, not usually called 'té'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Sharing is Caring
Mate is a highly social drink. Saying 'tomar mates' implies a shared, communal experience, often passing the same cup around.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: mates
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'mates' as the traditional South American drink?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'mates' means the drink or the verb?
If it is preceded by 'los,' 'unos,' or used as the subject of a sentence, it's the noun (the drink or the cups). If it follows a pronoun like 'tú' or is part of a command, it's the verb form of 'matar' (to kill/checkmate).
Is 'mates' only used in Argentina?
No, it is central to the culture of Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, and is also consumed widely in Southern Brazil, Chile, and Bolivia. It is known internationally but is most prevalent in the Southern Cone.