Spanish word

almirez

Pronunciation

IPA/almiˈɾeθ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounmortar

Example

Usa el almirez para moler ajo.

Use the mortar to grind garlic.

Illustration for almirez (mortar)

More examples

Después de cocinar, lavo el almirez con agua caliente.

After cooking, I wash the mortar with hot water.

Core concept

Solid mortar and pestle for pounding herbs and spices.

Common phrases

  • comprar un almirez

    buy a mortar

  • limpiar el almirez

    wash the mortar

  • usar el almirez para moler ajo

    use the mortar to grind garlic

Similar words

mortero: Standard mortar bowl used in everyday cooking, often made of ceramic or metal.
mano: Short club-like tool used as a pestle to mash and grind ingredients against a mortar.
molcajete: Textured stone mortar, commonly volcanic basalt, used to grind ingredients for salsas.

Definition in Spanish

Utensilio de cocina consistente en un cuenco sólido donde se machacan, muelen o pulverizan ingredientes con una pieza para golpear o presionar.

Word origin

The word combines the Arabic definite article al- with a Moorish Arabic root meaning a grinding vessel and became established in Spanish in medieval Iberia.

Usage tips

  • Almirez can sound regional or slightly old-fashioned in speech, and mortero is the safer, more widely used everyday word.

Word lists with this word