Spanish · Food & Drink
"Milk" in Spanish: leche
la leche
Milk goes by la leche (LEH-cheh). It is feminine: la leche fría, un vaso de leche. In coffee talk you will hear café con leche constantly.
How to pronounce leche: audio and sound guideAt breakfast
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How to pronounce leche
Say it
LEH-cheh
/ˈle.tʃe/
LEH-cheh, stress on LEH. The ch is like English "church". Both e vowels are short and clear—do not say "latch" or "leach".
"Milk" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la leche | milk Default word for cow's milk and milk in recipes. | Default word for cow's milk and milk in recipes. |
| la leche descremada | skim milk Also called leche baja en grasa on some labels. | Also called leche baja en grasa on some labels. |
| la leche de almendras | almond milk Plant milk; soy is leche de soya / soja. | Plant milk; soy is leche de soya / soja. |
| el café con leche | coffee with milk The classic milky coffee order. | The classic milky coffee order. |
| sin leche | without milk Useful for coffee or tea orders. | Useful for coffee or tea orders. |
How to use leche in real life
- 1At breakfast
¿Me pasas la leche, por favor?
Can you pass me the milk, please?
Pasar is the usual verb for passing food at the table.
- 2In a supermarket
Necesito un litro de leche.
I need a liter of milk.
Milk is sold by liters in most Spanish-speaking countries.
- 3Ordering coffee
Café con poca leche, por favor.
Coffee with a little milk, please.
Poca leche controls how milky the cup is.
Mistakes English speakers make with leche
Incorrect: El leche está agria.
Correct: La leche está agria.
Leche is feminine. Use la leche, esta leche, leche fría.
Incorrect: Quiero milk en mi café.
Correct: Quiero leche en mi café.
Keep the Spanish word leche. For "with milk," café con leche is the set phrase.
Good to know
Good to knowCafé con leche is a breakfast staple from Spain to Latin America, often paired with bread or pan dulce. Fresh milk still appears in markets, but boxed long-life leche is common in many kitchens. If you avoid dairy, say sin leche or ask for leche vegetal; staff increasingly know plant options in cities.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Fixing a coffee order at a café
ChatPal
¿Tu café lleva leche?
Does your coffee take milk?
You
Sí, poca leche caliente.
Yes, a little hot milk.
ChatPal
¿Leche entera o descremada?
Whole or skim milk?
You
Leche entera, gracias.
Whole milk, 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"Milk" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Milk" in Spanish
Is leche masculine or feminine?
Feminine: la leche, mucha leche, leche fría.
How do I say "I'm lactose intolerant"?
Soy intolerante a la lactosa. You can also say sin leche, por favor.
What is leche condensada?
Sweetened condensed milk, used in desserts and some coffees—not the same as fresh milk.
How do you pronounce leche?
LEH-cheh with a "ch" as in church. Stress the first syllable.
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