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"Menestra" is a noun which is often translated as "vegetable stew", and "potaje" is a noun which is often translated as "soup". Learn more about the difference between "menestra" and "potaje" below.
la menestra(
meh
-
nehs
-
trah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (culinary)
a. vegetable stew
Si le añades unos trocitos de jamón a la menestra, te va a quedar más gustosa.If you add some pieces of ham to the vegetable stew, it's going to be tastier.
el potaje(
poh
-
tah
-
heh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
a. soup
Mamá, ¿qué hay para comer? - Un buen potaje de lentejas.Mom, what's for dinner? - A hearty lentil soup.
b. stew
El Viernes Santo siempre comíamos un potaje de bacalao, espinacas y garbanzos en casa de la abuela.We always had a stew of salt cod, spinach, and chickpeas at grandma's on Good Friday.
2. (colloquial) (concoction)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
3. (mishmash)
a. jumble
La lluvia de ideas acabó siendo un potaje de ideas sin sentido.The brainstorm resulted in a jumble of nonsensical ideas.
