Inklingo

How to Say "bud" in Spanish

English → Spanish

botón

nounB1General
Use 'botón' when referring to a flower that is still closed and unopened, often implying it's on the verge of blooming.

Examples

Las flores de cerezo están en botón, listas para abrir.

The cherry blossoms are in bud, ready to open.

brote

/BROH-teh//ˈbɾote/

nounB1General
Use 'brote' for the very first visible growth on a plant that will develop into a leaf or flower, especially at the start of a growing season.
A close-up of a tiny green bud sprouting from a brown tree branch.

Examples

Los primeros brotes aparecen en primavera.

The first buds appear in spring.

Añadí brotes de soja a la ensalada.

I added soy sprouts to the salad.

El jardinero cortó los brotes secos del rosal.

The gardener cut the dry shoots off the rose bush.

Always Masculine

Even though it ends in -e, 'brote' is always masculine. You must say 'el brote' or 'un brote'.

Noun vs. Action

'Brote' is the thing that grows. If you want to say 'to sprout,' use the action word 'brotar'.

Confusing with Brócoli

Mistake: “Quiero comer brote.”

Correction: Quiero comer brócoli (if you mean broccoli) or Quiero comer brotes (if you mean sprouts). Use the plural for food.

capullo

/ka-poo-yo//kaˈpuʝo/

nounB1General
Choose 'capullo' when you want to emphasize the tightly closed, protective casing of a flower before it opens.
A single green flower bud on a stem, tightly closed and ready to bloom.

Examples

Las rosas todavía están en capullo.

The roses are still in bud.

El capullo de la flor se abrirá mañana.

The flower bud will open tomorrow.

Ella es como un capullo que está a punto de florecer.

She is like a bud about to bloom.

Gender and Articles

This word is masculine. Always use 'el' or 'un'. Even if the flower (la flor) is feminine, the bud is 'el capullo'.

Bud vs. Button

Mistake: “Using 'botón' for every kind of flower bud.”

Correction: While 'botón' works for some flowers, 'capullo' is the more specific and poetic word for a flower that hasn't bloomed yet.

yema

/YEH-mah//ˈʝema/

nounB2General
Use 'yema' for a small, often less developed bud on a tree or shrub that will grow into a leaf or flower, common in botanical contexts.
A small green bud growing on a brown tree branch.

Examples

Las yemas de los árboles empiezan a salir en marzo.

The tree buds start to come out in March.

Si cortas la yema principal, la planta crecerá hacia los lados.

If you cut the main bud, the plant will grow sideways.

Biological terms

In a scientific context, 'yema' is used for both plants and the 'buds' of certain animals (like in budding reproduction).

Botón vs. Brote

Learners often confuse 'botón' and 'brote'. Remember that 'brote' refers to the earliest stage of growth, the initial sprout, while 'botón' specifically describes an unopened flower bud.

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