Spanish word

berenjena

Pronunciation

IPA/beɾeŋˈxena/

Meaning

  • feminine nouneggplant

Example

¿Quieres berenjena en la ensalada?

Do you want eggplant in the salad?

Illustration for berenjena (eggplant)

More examples

Me encanta la berenjena asada con ajo.

I love grilled eggplant with garlic.

Core concept

Long or round purple vegetable with glossy skin and creamy white interior.

Common phrases

  • berenjena asada

    grilled eggplant

  • ensalada de berenjena

    eggplant salad

  • berenjena frita

    fried eggplant

Similar words

calabacín: Thin, light-green vegetable with soft interior that cooks quickly and absorbs seasonings.
pimiento: Crunchy, colorful pepper with inner seeds, adds sweetness or heat to dishes depending on variety.
tomate: Juicy red fruit with tangy flavor, versatile for salads, sauces, and stews.
pepino: Fresh green cucumber with crisp, cool flesh and thin skin, used raw in salads.

Definition in Spanish

Verdura cuyo fruto puede ser alargado o redondeado, de piel morada y carne suave, frecuente en platos mediterráneos y latinoamericanos.

Word origin

Spanish berenjena derives from Arabic al-bāḏinjān, adapted to Romance sounds in Iberia and ultimately from Persian bādingān.

Usage tips

  • The j in berenjena is pronounced with the Spanish guttural sound (not English j), and the vegetable is commonly referred to in the plural as las berenjenas.

Word lists with this word