tomate

tomato?The fruit used in cooking and salads

Also:tomatillo (in some regions)?Green, husk-covered fruit (less common usage)

toh-MAH-teh

/toˈmate/

NounmA1

neutralMexicoSpain and most of Latin America (e.g., Argentina, Chile, Peru)

A single, perfectly ripe red tomato with a small green stem cap.

📝 In Action

Necesito un tomate para hacer la salsa.

I need a tomato to make the sauce.

El gazpacho es una sopa fría hecha principalmente de tomates.

Gazpacho is a cold soup made mainly from tomatoes.

Me gusta poner rodajas de tomate en mi sándwich.

I like putting slices of tomato on my sandwich.

Word Connections

Synonyms

jitomate (tomato (used in Mexico))

Common Collocations

salsa de tomate – tomato sauce
jugo de tomate – tomato juice
tomate cherry – cherry tomato

Idioms & Expressions

ponerse como un tomate – to blush deeply (to turn bright red)

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun Rule

Even though 'tomate' ends in '-e,' it is a masculine word, so you must use 'el' or 'un' before it: 'el tomate' (the tomato).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Gender

Mistake: “La tomate.”

Correction: El tomate. Remember that most words ending in '-e' have unpredictable gender, but 'tomate' is masculine.

⭐ Usage Tips

Pronunciation Tip

The stress is on the second syllable: to-MAH-teh. Make sure to pronounce the final 'e' clearly, unlike in English.

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: tomate

Question 1 of 2

If you are in Mexico and ask for 'tomate' at the market, what will you most likely receive?

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

📚 More Resources

Word Family

tomatera(tomato plant) - Noun

tomatada(large amount of tomato/tomato dish) - Noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'tomate' masculine or feminine?

'Tomate' is a masculine noun. Always use 'el tomate' or 'un tomate'.

What is the difference between 'tomate' and 'jitomate'?

This depends entirely on where you are. In Spain and most of South America, 'tomate' is the standard red tomato. In Mexico, 'jitomate' is the red tomato, and 'tomate' is the smaller, green tomatillo.