Inklingo

How to Say "seed" in Spanish

English → Spanish

semilla

/seh-MEE-yah//seˈmiʝa/

nounA1general
Use 'semilla' when referring to the part of a plant that can grow into a new one, or metaphorically for the origin of an idea or feeling.
A small brown seed resting in rich dark soil with a tiny green sprout beginning to emerge.

Examples

Planta la semilla en un lugar soleado.

Plant the seed in a sunny spot.

Necesitas plantar la semilla en tierra húmeda.

You need to plant the seed in moist soil.

Esta sandía no tiene semillas.

This watermelon doesn't have seeds.

Las semillas de chía son muy saludables.

Chia seeds are very healthy.

Always Feminine

Even if you are talking about a masculine plant like 'el manzano' (the apple tree), the word 'semilla' stays feminine. Use 'la' and 'una' with it.

Figurative Use

Just like in English, you can use 'semilla' to talk about the start of a project, a conflict, or a love story.

Seed vs. Pip

Mistake: “Using 'hueso' for tiny seeds.”

Correction: Use 'hueso' (bone) for large pits like avocados or peaches, but 'semilla' or 'pepita' for small ones like apples or lemons.

grano

GRAH-noh/ˈɡɾano/

nounA1general
Use 'grano' for individual kernels of grains, like corn or wheat, or for seeds used as spices or in coffee.
A small pile of shiny, golden wheat grains resting on a light brown surface.

Examples

El molino usa grano de trigo para hacer harina.

The mill uses wheat grain to make flour.

El agricultor cosechó mucho grano este año.

The farmer harvested a lot of grain this year.

Quiero un café hecho con granos enteros.

I want a coffee made with whole beans.

Solo queda un grano de arena en el reloj.

There is only one grain of sand left in the clock.

Always Masculine

Even though it refers to small, countable items like seeds, 'grano' is always a masculine noun ('el grano').

pipa

/pee-pah//ˈpipa/

nounA2informal
Use 'pipa' specifically for edible seeds commonly eaten as snacks, such as sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
A single striped sunflower seed showing its characteristic black and white pattern.

Examples

A los niños les encantan las pipas de girasol.

The children love sunflower seeds.

Compramos una bolsa de pipas para ver el partido de fútbol.

We bought a bag of sunflower seeds to watch the soccer game.

¿Quieres pipas?

Do you want some sunflower seeds?

Pipas vs. Pepitas

Mistake: “Using 'pipas' for seeds inside a fruit.”

Correction: Use 'pipas' for snacks you crack open (sunflower/pumpkin) and 'pepitas' or 'semillas' for seeds inside a watermelon or apple.

Don't confuse snack seeds with plant seeds

The most common error is using 'semilla' for edible snack seeds like sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Remember that 'pipa' is the specific word for these types of seeds, while 'semilla' refers to the botanical seed meant for planting or the origin of an idea.

Related Translations

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