How to Say "lime" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “lime” is “limón” — use this word when referring to the small, green, acidic citrus fruit, common in many Latin American countries for drinks and cooking.
limón
Examples
Me gusta añadir un limón al agua para darle sabor.
I like to add a lime to my water to give it flavor.
cal
kalkal
Examples
La pared necesita una capa de cal para protegerla de la humedad.
The wall needs a coat of lime to protect it from moisture.
Necesitamos comprar cal para pintar las paredes de la casa.
We need to buy lime to whitewash the walls of the house.
La cal se utiliza en la agricultura para mejorar la calidad del suelo.
Lime is used in agriculture to improve soil quality.
La cal viva es peligrosa y debe manipularse con cuidado.
Quicklime is dangerous and must be handled carefully.
Gender Check
Even though 'cal' ends in an 'L', it is a feminine noun, so you must use 'la cal' or 'una cal'.
Confusing Mineral and Fruit
Mistake: “Thinking 'cal' means the small green citrus fruit.”
Correction: The fruit is 'lima' or 'limón'. 'Cal' is strictly the white mineral powder used in building.
Confusing Citrus vs. Construction
Related Translations
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