Spanish word

membrillo

Pronunciation

IPA/memˈbɾiʝo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounquince

Example

Tengo un membrillo en la nevera.

I have a quince in the fridge.

Illustration for membrillo (quince)

More examples

Cada otoño preparo pasta de membrillo para regalar.

Every autumn I make quince paste to give as gifts.

Core concept

Hard pale-yellow fruit with a strong perfume, astringent raw and turning into a sweet jamlike paste when cooked.

Common phrases

  • pasta de membrillo

    quince paste

  • dulce de membrillo

    quince paste

  • mermelada de membrillo

    quince jam

Similar words

manzana: Sweet round fruit, usually red or green, with crisp flesh and a fresh flavor.
pera: Soft, juicy pear-shaped fruit with tender flesh and a mild sweet taste.
mermelada: Thick spreadable preserve of fruit and sugar with a jamlike consistency.
ate: Mexican sweet confection of cooked fruit pulp and sugar that sets into a firm paste.

Definition in Spanish

Fruto del membrillero con aroma pronunciado; crudo resulta algo astringente, y cocinado se transforma en el dulce de membrillo.

Word origin

Greek μελίμηλον 'honey apple' reached medieval Latin and then became the Spanish membrillo, linking the name to the fruit's sweet cooked form.

Usage tips

  • On restaurant menus membrillo commonly means a dense paste served with cheese rather than fresh quince, and 'membrillo fresco' marks the raw fruit.

Other meanings

  • quince pastenoun

Related words

  • membrilleroquince treenoun

Word lists with this word