Is límon lime or lemon?

Question

I was taught that límon was lime and lemon was lemon. I had a paper I printed from another website that had a picture of a lemon and it said límon. Yet, on the menudo can tonight it said límon refering to a lime. This site has límon as lemon and lima as lime. Thanks.

• Que coincidencia - I'm currently in the US, but I had lunch in a Mexican restaurant; I ordered in a coke with lime in English and the server asked me if I wanted a lemon! I clarified in Spanish "limon verde" and was rewarded with a coke with 5 limes! - mountaingirl Oct 30, 2009
• I had the best laugh with this post. Thanks so much! :) - Brynleigh Nov 7, 2010

Answer 1

Due to my extensive travel experience (once my family went to North Carolina), I have learned to keep a photo of a lemon and of lime in my wallet. When I order my cold tea (té frío?), I hold up the photos and point to the lemon and say "con esta", then I point to the lime and say -- while emphatically shaking my head -- "no con esta."

This actually causes a lot of confusion since I've never eaten at a restaurant where the staff spoke Spanish, but that is beside the point.

• This is a great way to solve things! jeje, many countries use this word differently, wonderful idea. - Heidita Sep 20, 2009
• Well, just in case anyone cares, the Germans call a lemon eine Zitrone and a lime eine Linde. Germans don't really carry photos of lemons and limes around. :) - webdunce Sep 20, 2009
• I thought it was funnier without the stuff about Germans...so I removed it. - webdunce Sep 20, 2009
• Your humor gets your answer accepted. - Seitheach Sep 21, 2009
• Great :)) - Issabela Oct 30, 2009
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Answer 2

Limón is a lime.. as far a I know. At least here in Mexico.

Also "limonada" learned in Spanish class as "lemonade"... But I dont even see lemons here in Mexico. Not even drinks...just limes.

• I'm thinking it may be a regional thing. - Seitheach Sep 20, 2009
• That may be it. - NikkiRivera Sep 20, 2009
• No...ella sabe. Limon is lime. Corona va con limon y sal, not lemon and sal. - ChamacoMalo Sep 20, 2009
• Jaja... - NikkiRivera Sep 20, 2009
• Just to toss my two cents in, I actually discussed the lemon-lime deal with my Mexican host family, and they said limón is for both, but it took them awhile to remember having seen a lemon before, and I haven't seen any here. - Soninmyeyes Nov 4, 2010

Answer 3

Well. for me a límon is a lemon (green on the outside and really sour - goes really well with tequila and beer!). There's a lemon tree in my parents' backyard.

I think we have different understanding of what I lemon is. As I under stand it a lemon is yellow, not green, and used to make lemonade.

And limes are green... used to put in beer, squeezed on food for flavor, and it's even in the mayonnaise here.

But I'm pretty sure is all a regional thing, nikkis says she hasn't seen lemons here in Mexico but I'm looking at a lemon tree right now (well, not really because it's dark outside tongue rolleye) so, guess there is not a right answer smile.

• I agree totally. I was getting really confused when lemons were being described as being green on the outside. In the U.S., lemon can be used to describe a color-"lemon-yellow" - Nicole-B Sep 20, 2009
• For that matter, we also describe certain shades of green as "lime green". - Nicole-B Sep 20, 2009
• You know what? You're totally right!!! And that's why 'una imagen vale más que mil palabras' jejeje! Lime=limon in Mexico :P - InésDelRío Sep 20, 2009
• Yes a picture is worth more than a thousand words! I'm sure you will remember the difference between a lemon and a lime for the rest of your life!!! - Nicole-B Sep 20, 2009
• jaja, yes, hoped that helped out. - NikkiRivera Sep 20, 2009
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Answer 4

lime

sustantivo - lima (f) (fruit)limón (m) (español de México); lima (f) limero (m) limonero (m) (español de México); tilo (m)

• lime juice (citrus tree)(linden tree) -> zumo (m) or (español de España) jugo (m) de lima (Am)
• lime green -> verde (m) lima

---

Maybe limón is used for lime only in Mexico???

Answer 5

I have been to Mexico a few times and the topic of lemons never came up. But in June I was in the Dominican Republic. At the produce store, lemons were referred to as "limón" and lemon-aid was ordered in several restaurants and served in homes and referred to as "limonada".

As a side note, I had always heard that iced-tea was called té helado. I even had a practice c.d. that used that term over and over. When I ordered té helado in the D.R., the waitress looked at me like I was crazy. I was told later by English speaking locals that they called it té frio. I'm guessing it is a regional thing with both the lemons and the tea.

• I see té helado here all the time in Mexico. - NikkiRivera Sep 20, 2009
• Nicole, that's interesting. I've only heard of "té helado" in my studies, including some flashcards here on SpanishDict. - --Mariana-- Sep 20, 2009
• I know. I thought that was one beverage I could order with confidence. Since I love iced-tea, I will check before I travel next time! - Nicole-B Sep 20, 2009
• Another regional usage-here in Ohio the word is lemonade; not lemon-aid. - qfreed Sep 20, 2009
• I'm in southern Mexico and it's just té for iced tea... té helado confuses people. - morphine Oct 30, 2009

Answer 6

Té helado (iced- tea) is used in Bolivia

and "limón" is "lemon"

and "lima" is "lime"

and "limonada" is " lemonade"

Answer 7

lemon = limón lime = lima

Answer 8

If Lima = Lime, does Perú = Pear?

• jejejejejejem wonderfurl, getting my vote - Heidita Oct 30, 2009

Answer 9

This is so interesting! In Mexico we differentiate by saying "limón verde" or limón amarillo" Heidita, am I correct in my recollection that in Spain a "limón" is understood to be a lemon (yellow)?

Answer 10

This is a good question!

In the dictionary is says that "limón" is for lemon. however, "lima" and "limón" are both listed for lime.

Answer 11

This is what they say:

lima1.

(Del ár. hisp. lima, y este del ár. līmah).

1. f. Fruto del limero, de forma esferoidal aplanada y de unos cinco centímetros de diámetro, pezón bien saliente de la base, corteza lisa y amarilla, y pulpa verdosa, dividida en gajos, comestible, jugosa y de sabor algo dulce.

Now the difference to limón, is that limón is yellow inside and it is certainly not sweet.

this is what we call lima here:

• You said the límon was yellow inside. Is it still green on the outside or is it the yellow citrus fruit. - Seitheach Sep 20, 2009
• Here in the states, lemons are yellow inside and outside. Limes are green inside and outside. - webdunce Sep 21, 2009
• Is there another variety that is green on the outside and yellow on the inside? - webdunce Sep 21, 2009
• Yes, of course, web, I meant inside and outside , both yellow - Heidita Sep 21, 2009

Answer 12

Lima is lime and Limón is lemon.

Answer 13

"limonada" is " lemonade"

Don't confuse this with limoná, we drink this in fiestas

INGREDIENTES:

. vino

. limones

. naranjas

. azúcar

. canela

. esencia

• Limoná sounds better. - Seitheach Oct 30, 2009

Answer 14

well, I refer to límon as lemon, and lima as lime....but I also speak with numerous cultures....

Answer 15

To me this looks as if they are made of lemons. The caption on Photobucket under this photo says, "Ants made of Limes"!

It must be a universal confusion!