receta

/reh-SEH-tah/

recipe

A simple white index card resting on a wooden kitchen counter next to a wooden spoon and a bowl filled with colorful chopped vegetables.

When referring to cooking instructions, receta means "recipe."

receta(noun)

fA1

recipe

instructions for cooking

Also:

formula

a set method or approach

📝 In Action

¿Tienes la receta de este delicioso pastel de chocolate?

Do you have the recipe for this delicious chocolate cake?

Mi abuela guarda todas sus recetas en un libro viejo.

My grandmother keeps all her recipes in an old book.

Parece que la receta para el éxito es mucho trabajo y un poco de suerte.

It seems the formula for success is a lot of hard work and a bit of luck.

Word Connections

Synonyms

fórmula (formula (method))
instrucciones (instructions)

Common Collocations

libro de recetas – cookbook
seguir la receta – to follow the recipe

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

Remember that 'receta' is always treated as a feminine word, so you must use 'la receta' or 'una receta'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Using the right verb

The most common verb to use with a recipe is 'seguir' (to follow). If you want to ask for one, use 'pedir' or 'dar' (to ask for/to give).

A small, folded piece of paper resting on a white counter next to a brown bottle of pills and a traditional mortar and pestle, suggesting a pharmacy setting.

In a medical context, receta translates to "prescription."

receta(noun)

fB1

prescription

medical order for medication

Also:

script

informal medical term

📝 In Action

El doctor me dio una receta para antibióticos.

The doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics.

Sin la receta, la farmacia no puede venderte esa medicina.

Without the prescription, the pharmacy cannot sell you that medicine.

Word Connections

Synonyms

prescripción (prescription (more formal))

Common Collocations

receta médica – medical prescription
pedir una receta – to ask for a prescription

💡 Grammar Points

Verbs for Prescriptions

Doctors 'dan' (give) or 'extienden' (issue) a prescription, and patients 'necesitan' (need) or 'piden' (ask for) one.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing the two meanings

Mistake: "Using 'receta' in a medical context when you mean the action of prescribing: *El doctor recetó.* (The doctor prescribed)."

Correction: Use the noun 'receta' for the paper itself, and the verb 'recetar' for the doctor's action.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: receta

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'receta' in its medical context?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

recetar(to prescribe) - verb

recetario(cookbook / formulary) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'receta' mean both 'recipe' and 'prescription'?

Both meanings share the core idea of a 'formula' or a 'set of instructions.' A cooking recipe tells you the steps and ingredients for a meal, and a medical prescription tells the pharmacist the steps and ingredients for a medicine. It’s a very efficient way for Spanish to use one word for two related concepts.