Spanish Conversation · Level 72
60 words
Spanish word
almidón
Pronunciation
IPA/almiˈðon/
Meaning
- masculine nounstarch
Example
La patata tiene mucho almidón.
The potato has a lot of starch.
More examples
Para espesar la salsa, añade un poco de almidón de maíz.
To thicken the sauce, add a little cornstarch.
Core concept
Plant-based carbohydrate granules or powder that swells and gels when heated with water.
Common phrases
almidón de maíz
cornstarch
almidón de patata
potato starch
Similar words
maicena: Starch powder made from corn, favored in household recipes for clear, light thickening.
fécula: Pure starch powder produced by extracting and drying plant starch for thickening.
harina: Ground grain product used for baking and forming doughs and batters.
tapioca: Starch extracted from cassava, used to make tapioca pearls and glossy puddings.
Definition in Spanish
Sustancia vegetal presente en tubérculos y cereales, formada por cadenas de carbohidratos que al mezclarse con agua y calentarse espesan y dan textura a los alimentos.
Word origin
It derives from Greek ἄμυlon via Latin amylum and Old French amidon, the Greek name highlighting that the substance was not ground.
Usage tips
- Spanish harina means flour and behaves differently in sauces and batters, so using almidón instead creates a lighter, shinier texture than flour-based thickeners.
Related words
- almidonarstarchverb
- almidonadostarchedadjective
- almidonamientostarchingnoun