Spanish · Food & Drink
"Lemon" in Spanish: limón
el limón
A lemon is el limón (lee-MOHN). It is masculine: un limón, los limones. In much of Latin America limón also covers the small green citrus English calls lime.
Seasoning food
Ponle limón a los tacos.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce limón
Say it
lee-MOHN
/liˈmon/
lee-MOHN. Stress MOHN. Written accent on ó. Soft final n. Plural limones drops the written accent.
"Lemon" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| el limón | lemon (and often lime in Latin America) Default citrus for seasoning and drinks. | Default citrus for seasoning and drinks. |
| el jugo de limón | lemon / lime juice Cooking and agua fresca. | Cooking and agua fresca. |
| la limonada | lemonade (or limeade) Sweet citrus drink. | Sweet citrus drink. |
| la lima | lime (in some regions) / sweet lime Usage varies by country; ask locally if you need yellow lemon specifically. | Usage varies by country; ask locally if you need yellow lemon specifically. |
How to use limón in real life
- 1Seasoning food
Ponle limón a los tacos.
Put lemon (or lime) on the tacos.
Street tacos almost always get a squeeze of limón.
- 2Ordering a drink
Una limonada con hielo, por favor.
A lemonade with ice, please.
Limonada comes from limón.
- 3At the market
Necesito tres limones para la sopa.
I need three lemons for the soup.
Plural limones is regular.
Mistakes English speakers make with limón
Incorrect: La limón está agria.
Correct: El limón está agrio.
Limón is masculine. Use el limón and agrio.
Incorrect: Quiero un limon sin tilde.
Correct: Escribí limón con tilde.
Limón needs the accent on ó. Without it, stress looks wrong on the page.
Good to know
In Mexico and much of Central America, the small green citrus on every taco stand is called limón even when English speakers say lime. Yellow European lemons exist too, but limón is the everyday squeeze. If you need to be precise abroad, show a photo or ask for limón amarillo versus limón verde.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
At a taco stand
ChatPal
¿Quieres limón en los tacos?
Do you want lemon on the tacos?
You
Sí, mucho limón, por favor.
Yes, lots of lemon, please.
ChatPal
Aquí tienes tu limón.
Here is your lemon.
You
Gracias. Quedó perfecto.
Thanks. It turned out perfect.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Lemon" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Lemon" in Spanish
Is limón masculine or feminine?
Masculine: el limón, un limón, limones frescos.
Does limón mean lemon or lime?
Often both in Latin America. Context and color tell you which limón you get.
How do you pronounce limón?
lee-MOHN with stress on MOHN. Keep the written accent.
What is limonada?
A sweet drink made with limón—lemonade or limeade depending on the fruit.
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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