Spanish · Food & Drink
"Tea" in Spanish: té
el té
Ask for el té (teh) when you want tea. It is masculine: un té, el té caliente. Herbal infusions are often té de hierbas or simply una infusión on café menus.
How to pronounce té: audio and sound guideAt a café
Un té de menta, por favor.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce té
Say it
teh
/te/
One short syllable: teh, like the first part of "ten" without the n. The written accent (té) separates it from the pronoun te ("you").
"Tea" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| el té | tea Black or green tea as a drink. | Black or green tea as a drink. |
| el té de hierbas | herbal tea Chamomile, mint, and other infusions. | Chamomile, mint, and other infusions. |
| el té helado | iced tea Cold tea; not always sweetened unless you ask. | Cold tea; not always sweetened unless you ask. |
| el té verde | green tea Common on café boards next to black tea. | Common on café boards next to black tea. |
How to use té in real life
- 1At a café
Un té de menta, por favor.
A mint tea, please.
Naming the herb after té de… is clear and common.
- 2Feeling sick
Me preparo un té de manzanilla.
I'm making myself a chamomile tea.
Manzanilla is the everyday word for chamomile.
- 3After dinner
¿Quieres té o café?
Do you want tea or coffee?
A simple choice hosts offer after a meal.
Mistakes English speakers make with té
Incorrect: Una té, por favor.
Correct: Un té, por favor.
Té is masculine. Say un té, el té, este té.
Incorrect: Quiero te sin acento.
Correct: Quiero té.
Write té with an accent. Te without the accent is the object pronoun "you," not the drink.
Good to know
Good to knowIn the Southern Cone, mate is a shared infused drink with its own gourd and straw; it is not the same as té, even though both are hot infusions. In Mexico and much of Central America, té de hierbas like manzanilla is everyday comfort, while black tea is less central than café. Menus may list té and infusión side by side.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering a warm drink after dinner
ChatPal
¿Café o té para terminar?
Coffee or tea to finish?
You
Un té de hierbas, sin azúcar.
An herbal tea, no sugar.
ChatPal
Traigo el té en un minuto.
I'll bring the tea in a minute.
You
Gracias. Ese té me relaja.
Thanks. That tea relaxes me.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Tea" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Tea" in Spanish
Why does té have an accent?
The accent marks stress and separates té (tea) from te (you). Always write the drink as té.
Is té masculine or feminine?
Masculine: el té, un té caliente.
Is mate the same as té?
No. Mate is a separate tradition, especially in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Order mate only when you mean that drink.
How do I say iced tea?
Té helado. Ask if it comes sweetened: ¿viene dulce?
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