Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Cabbage in Spanish: Repollo, Col & Berza
Repollo · noun (masculine) · rreh-POH-yoh
Cabbage is repollo (el repollo) in most of Latin America and col (la col) in Spain and Mexico. Both words are widely understood, but regional preference is strong. Berza refers to collard-type greens or loose-leaf cabbage, used mainly in Spain. Col rizada means kale, and coles de Bruselas means Brussels sprouts.
Repollo is rreh-POH-yoh, three syllables, stress on POH. Col is a single syllable: KOHL. Berza is BEHR-sah.
Compramos un repollo grande para hacer ensalada de col.
We bought a large cabbage to make coleslaw.
Cabbage in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for cabbage, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| repollo | cabbage | rreh-POH-yoh | Default, widely understood |
| col | cabbage | Spain, Mexico — standard for cabbage | |
| berza | cabbage | Spain — collard-type cabbage greens |
How Native Speakers Use Repollo
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Latin American market
El repollo morado tiene más antioxidantes que el verde.
Purple cabbage has more antioxidants than green.
Repollo morado (purple/red cabbage) and repollo verde (green cabbage) are the two main varieties. Morado is the color purple in many countries.
Spanish cuisine
La col es un ingrediente clave del cocido madrileño.
Cabbage is a key ingredient in Madrid-style stew.
Cocido madrileño is a traditional chickpea-based stew from Madrid that includes cabbage (col), meats, and other vegetables. Col is the standard term in Spain.
Modern health food
La col rizada se ha puesto de moda en los batidos verdes.
Kale has become trendy in green smoothies.
Col rizada (curly cabbage) is kale. Ponerse de moda means to become trendy. Batido verde is a green smoothie.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Repollo
Mixing up gender of col and repollo
Incorrect: El col está fresca.
Correct: La col está fresca. / El repollo está fresco.
Col is feminine (la col). Repollo is masculine (el repollo). They have different genders despite meaning the same vegetable. Adjectives must match: fresca with col, fresco with repollo.
Using repollo for kale
Incorrect: Compré repollo rizado para el batido.
Correct: Compré col rizada para el batido.
Kale is specifically col rizada in Spanish. While repollo rizado might be understood, col rizada is the established term used in grocery stores and recipes.
Lock in Cabbage Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Repollo used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using repollo in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Compramos un repollo grande para hacer ensalada de col. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Cabbage in Spanish
- What is the difference between repollo and col?
- They refer to the same vegetable — cabbage. Repollo is standard in most of Latin America (Colombia, Argentina, Chile, etc.). Col is standard in Spain and Mexico. Both are understood internationally.
- How do I say 'Brussels sprouts' in Spanish?
- Coles de Bruselas (literally 'cabbages of Brussels'). The singular is col de Bruselas, but they are almost always plural. This term is the same everywhere.
- What is berza?
- Berza is a type of loose-leaf cabbage or collard green, used mainly in southern Spain (Andalusia). Berza is also used colloquially in the phrase estás hecho una berza (you're a mess / you're sluggish). It refers to a different variety than the compact headed cabbage.