How to Say "lemon" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “lemon” is “limón” — use 'limón' when referring to the actual yellow, acidic citrus fruit, or the color derived from it.
English → Spanish
limón
nounA1General
Use 'limón' when referring to the actual yellow, acidic citrus fruit, or the color derived from it.
Examples
Necesito un limón para hacer la limonada.
I need a lemon to make the lemonade.
limón
nounA2General
Use 'limón' to describe the color lemon yellow.
Examples
Pintamos la cocina de color limón.
We painted the kitchen lemon yellow.
limón
nounB2Informal
Use 'limón' informally to describe a faulty or defective item, especially a car.
Examples
Compré un coche usado y resultó ser un limón; se daña cada semana.
I bought a used car and it turned out to be a lemon; it breaks down every week.
patata
nounB2Informal
Use 'patata' informally to refer to a device or vehicle that doesn't work well or is of poor quality.
Examples
Este móvil es una patata, siempre se apaga solo.
This phone is a piece of junk; it always turns off by itself.
Confusing 'limón' and 'patata' for defective items
Learners often wonder if 'limón' or 'patata' is better for a broken item. While both are informal, 'limón' is more commonly associated with cars, whereas 'patata' can refer to any malfunctioning device or gadget.
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