Vainilla: Unveiling the Spanish Word of Flavor, Aroma & Sweetness

Vainilla (vai-NEE-yah)

Noun | Feminine

Vanilla (spice): the aromatic pod of the vanilla orchid used to flavor foods and beverages.
Vanilla (flavor): the sweet, creamy flavor derived from the seeds or extract of the vanilla pod.

Listen to the Word

Example Sentences

Me encanta el helado de vainilla.

I love vanilla ice cream.

La vainilla es un ingrediente común en los postres.

Vanilla is a common ingredient in desserts.

Compré un frasco de extracto de vainilla para la receta.

I bought a jar of vanilla extract for the recipe.

Word Origin

A diminutive of vaina “pod, sheath,” which in turn derives from the Latin vagina, meaning “sheath” or “scabbard.”

Culture

Native to Mexico, vanilla was first cultivated by the Totonac people and later became essential in many Spanish and Latin American desserts such as flan and natillas.

Fun Fact

Vanilla is the only edible fruit of the orchid family and was once so precious it was traded as currency in parts of Europe.

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