Inklingo

How to Say "dairy" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “dairy” is “leche” — use 'leche' when referring to milk itself, or in a general context of products derived directly from milk, especially in beverages like coffee or tea.

English → Spanish

leche

LEH-chehˈletʃe

nounA1general
Use 'leche' when referring to milk itself, or in a general context of products derived directly from milk, especially in beverages like coffee or tea.
A tall, clear glass filled with white milk, sitting next to a traditional glass milk bottle with a silver foil cap.

Examples

¿Quieres café con leche o té?

Do you want coffee with milk or tea?

Necesitamos un litro de leche fresca para el desayuno.

We need a liter of fresh milk for breakfast.

Gender Reminder

Even though 'leche' is a feminine noun, it doesn't follow the typical pattern of ending in '-a'. Always remember to use feminine words with it, like 'la leche' or 'mucha leche'.

lácteo

adjectiveA2general
Use 'lácteo' as an adjective to describe products that are related to milk, such as cheese or yogurt.

Examples

El queso es un producto lácteo muy popular.

Cheese is a very popular dairy product.

lácteo

nounA2general
Use 'lácteos' (plural noun) to refer to the food group that includes milk and milk-derived products.

Examples

Los lácteos son una buena fuente de calcio.

Dairy products are a good source of calcium.

Leche vs. Lácteo

Learners often confuse 'leche' and 'lácteo'. Remember that 'leche' primarily means 'milk' itself or is used in phrases like 'café con leche'. 'Lácteo' is the adjective or noun referring to milk products or the food group.

Related Translations

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