Spanish · Food & Drink
"Butter" in Spanish: mantequilla
la mantequilla
Butter is la mantequilla (mahn-teh-KEE-yah), a feminine noun. Ask for mantequilla on toast or for cooking. Un poco de mantequilla means a little butter.
At breakfast
Pásame la mantequilla, por favor.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce mantequilla
Say it
mahn-teh-KEE-yah
/man.teˈki.ʝa/
Four syllables: mahn-teh-KEE-yah. Stress KEE in mantequilla. Soft y for ll.
"Butter" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la mantequilla | butter Default word at the table or store. | Default word at the table or store. |
| un poco de mantequilla | a little butter Cooking or toast. | Cooking or toast. |
| la mantequilla sin sal | unsalted butter Baking and careful cooking. | Baking and careful cooking. |
| con mantequilla | with butter Ordering toast or corn. | Ordering toast or corn. |
How to use mantequilla in real life
- 1At breakfast
Pásame la mantequilla, por favor.
Pass me the butter, please.
La mantequilla sits on many breakfast tables.
- 2Cooking
Echa un poco de mantequilla a la sartén.
Add a little butter to the pan.
Mantequilla melts fast, so keep the heat medium.
- 3At the store
¿Tienen mantequilla sin sal?
Do you have unsalted butter?
Ask for mantequilla sin sal when you bake.
Mistakes English speakers make with mantequilla
Incorrect: El mantequilla está fría.
Correct: La mantequilla está fría.
Mantequilla is feminine. Use la, esta, and -a adjectives.
Incorrect: Quiero butter en el pan.
Correct: Quiero mantequilla en el pan.
Say mantequilla, not the English word butter.
Good to know
Latin American breakfasts often pair pan with mantequilla or jam. Mexican elotes may come con mantequilla. Spain uses mantequilla too; brands change.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Making toast in a shared kitchen
ChatPal
¿Dónde está la mantequilla?
Where is the butter?
You
En la nevera. Quiero mantequilla en el pan.
In the fridge. I want butter on the bread.
ChatPal
Perfecto. ¿Sin sal o normal?
Perfect. Unsalted or regular?
You
Normal, gracias.
Regular, thanks.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Butter" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Butter" in Spanish
Is mantequilla masculine or feminine?
Feminine: la mantequilla, esta mantequilla. Adjectives usually end in -a.
How do I say unsalted butter?
Mantequilla sin sal. Some labels also say mantequilla sin sal agregada.
Is manteca the same thing?
Not always. Manteca often means lard; mantequilla is dairy butter.
How do I ask for butter politely?
¿Me pasa la mantequilla, por favor? Or ¿Tienen mantequilla?
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
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- How to Practice Speaking Spanish with AI the Smart WayLearn how to practice speaking Spanish with AI using practical routines, realistic scenarios, and feedback loops that actually build real-world fluency.
