Inklingo

How to Say "clove" in Spanish

English → Spanish

ajo

/ah-ho//ˈaxo/

nounA1general
Use 'ajo' to refer to a segment of a garlic bulb, often specified as 'diente de ajo'.
A single, whole bulb of white garlic next to a few individual cloves.

Examples

Necesito tres dientes de ajo para la salsa.

I need three cloves of garlic for the sauce.

El ajo es muy bueno para la salud.

Garlic is very good for your health.

No me gusta el olor a ajo en las manos.

I don't like the smell of garlic on my hands.

Using 'Ajo' as a Countable Object

In Spanish, we usually count garlic by 'dientes' (teeth/cloves) or 'cabezas' (heads/bulbs) rather than saying 'one garlic' or 'two garlics'.

Garlic vs. Garlic Clove

Mistake: “Dame un ajo.”

Correction: Dame un diente de ajo.

clavo

/KLAH-boh//ˈklaβo/

nounB1culinary
Use 'clavo' (often 'clavo de olor') when referring to the aromatic spice derived from a tree, used in cooking.
A dried whole clove spice showing its characteristic flower bud shape.

Examples

Añade dos clavos de olor a la carne.

Add two cloves to the meat.

El clavo es muy bueno para el dolor de muelas.

Clove is very good for toothaches.

The 'Spice' Descriptor

While 'clavo' alone can mean the spice, Spanish speakers almost always say 'clavo de olor' (nail of scent) to distinguish it from the metal tool.

Garlic vs. Spice

The most common mistake is using 'clavo' when you mean a piece of garlic. Remember that 'clavo' refers to the spice, while 'ajo' is the word for garlic itself, and 'diente de ajo' is the specific term for a garlic clove.

Related Translations

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