Spanish · Food & Drink
"Ice cream" in Spanish: helado
el helado
Ice cream is el helado (eh-LAH-doh), a masculine noun. Order un helado de vainilla or dos bolas de helado. Nieve can mean a fruit ice in Mexico.
Street cart
Un helado de fresa, por favor.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce helado
Say it
eh-LAH-doh
/eˈla.ðo/
Three syllables: eh-LAH-doh. Stress LAH. Silent h in helado; no English h.
"Ice cream" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| el helado | ice cream Default word for ice cream. | Default word for ice cream. |
| un helado de chocolate | a chocolate ice cream Naming a flavor. | Naming a flavor. |
| dos bolas de helado | two scoops of ice cream Ordering scoops. | Ordering scoops. |
| la nieve | fruit ice / snow cone style In Mexico, often a fruit ice, not dairy helado. | In Mexico, often a fruit ice, not dairy helado. |
How to use helado in real life
- 1Street cart
Un helado de fresa, por favor.
A strawberry ice cream, please.
Name the flavor right after helado.
- 2Sharing
¿Compartimos un helado grande?
Shall we share a large ice cream?
Un helado grande works for one big serving.
- 3At home
El helado se está derritiendo.
The ice cream is melting.
Helado melts fast in warm weather—eat soon.
Mistakes English speakers make with helado
Incorrect: La helado está fría.
Correct: El helado está frío.
Helado is masculine. Use el and frío, not la and fría.
Incorrect: Quiero ice cream de mango.
Correct: Quiero helado de mango.
Say helado, not the English phrase ice cream.
Good to know
Shops sell helado in local flavors, from dulce de leche to guanábana. In Mexico, nieve is often fruit ice; helado is creamier. Spain uses helado for ice cream too.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing ice cream after a walk
ChatPal
¿Quieres helado?
Do you want ice cream?
You
Sí. Un helado de mango, por favor.
Yes. A mango ice cream, please.
ChatPal
¿En cono o en vaso?
In a cone or a cup?
You
En cono, gracias.
In a cone, 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"Ice cream" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Ice cream" in Spanish
Is helado masculine or feminine?
Masculine: el helado, un helado cremoso. Heladería (shop) is feminine.
What is the difference between helado and nieve?
Helado is usually dairy ice cream. Nieve often means fruit ice in Mexico.
How do I ask for two scoops?
Dos bolas de helado, or un helado de dos bolas.
How do I say ice cream cone?
Un helado en cono, or un cono de helado.
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
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