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How to Say "sap" in Spanish

English → Spanish

zumo

/THOO-moh//ˈθumo/

nounA1general
Use 'zumo' when referring to the sweet liquid extracted from fruits or vegetables, commonly consumed as a beverage.
A glass of bright orange juice next to a sliced orange.

Examples

Me gusta tomar un zumo de naranja por la mañana.

I like to have an orange juice in the morning.

Quiero un zumo de naranja recién exprimido.

I want a freshly squeezed orange juice.

¿Prefieres zumo de manzana o de piña?

Do you prefer apple or pineapple juice?

Beber mucho zumo natural es muy saludable.

Drinking a lot of natural juice is very healthy.

Masculine Noun Pattern

Since this word ends in '-o', it is masculine. Always use it with 'el' or 'un'.

Zumo vs. Jugo

Mistake: “Using 'zumo' in Mexico or Argentina.”

Correction: In most of Latin America, use 'jugo'. If you say 'zumo' there, people will know you learned Spanish from Spain!

jugo

HOO-go/ˈxu.ɣo/

nounB2general
Use 'jugo' when referring to the liquid naturally present in meat or vegetables, or the sap from trees.
A white plate holding a slice of roast meat covered in rich, dark brown gravy.

Examples

El jugo de la carne es esencial para una buena salsa.

The meat's juices are essential for a good sauce.

El chef usó el jugo de la carne para hacer una salsa deliciosa.

The chef used the meat's gravy/juices to make a delicious sauce.

Tienes que sacarle el jugo a la experiencia universitaria.

You have to get the most out (literally: 'take the juice out') of the university experience.

Figurative Use

When used figuratively, 'jugo' often suggests extracting the core value or benefit from a situation, much like squeezing a fruit.

Juice vs. Sap

The most common mistake is using 'jugo' for fruit juice when 'zumo' is the standard term in most of Spain. While 'jugo' is understood, 'zumo' is preferred for beverages like orange or apple juice.

Related Translations

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