Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Ketchup in Spanish: Kétchup & Cátsup
Kétchup · noun (masculine) · KEHT-choop
Ketchup in Spanish is kétchup (RAE-approved spelling) or cátsup (predominant in Mexico). Some speakers simply call it salsa de tomate, though that can also mean plain tomato sauce. The word is masculine: el kétchup.
KEHT-choop — the accent on the é marks stress on the first syllable. In Mexico, cátsup is pronounced KAHT-soop.
¿Me pasas el kétchup para las papas fritas?
Can you pass me the ketchup for the fries?
Ketchup in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for ketchup, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| kétchup | ketchup | KEHT-choop | Default, widely understood |
| cátsup | ketchup | Mexico | |
| salsa de tomate | ketchup | some countries, informal |
How Native Speakers Use Kétchup
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
At a restaurant
¿Tienen kétchup? Es para mi hamburguesa.
Do you have ketchup? It's for my burger.
Kétchup is understood throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
Mexican variant
Ponle más cátsup a los hot dogs.
Put more ketchup on the hot dogs.
In Mexico, cátsup is the standard supermarket label and colloquial term.
Asking generically
A mi hijo le gusta echarle salsa de tomate a todo.
My son likes to put ketchup on everything.
Salsa de tomate can mean ketchup or tomato sauce depending on context.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Kétchup
Confusing salsa de tomate with kétchup
Incorrect: Cocina la pasta con kétchup. (meaning tomato sauce)
Correct: Cocina la pasta con salsa de tomate.
Kétchup is the sweet condiment. Salsa de tomate for cooking is different — it has no sugar or vinegar. Don't use them interchangeably in recipes.
Omitting the accent
Incorrect: Pásame el ketchup.
Correct: Pásame el kétchup.
The RAE spelling requires the accent (kétchup) to mark it as an esdrújula word. However, in casual writing, the unaccented English spelling is widely tolerated.
Lock in Ketchup 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 Kétchup used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using kétchup in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear ¿Me pasas el kétchup para las papas fritas? 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 Ketchup in Spanish
- How do you say ketchup in Spanish?
- Ketchup is kétchup in Spanish (RAE spelling). In Mexico, the spelling cátsup is standard. Both refer to the same tomato-based condiment.
- Is cátsup only used in Mexico?
- Cátsup is predominantly Mexican. Other Latin American countries and Spain use kétchup or the English spelling ketchup. All forms are understood everywhere.
- Is kétchup masculine or feminine?
- Kétchup is masculine: el kétchup. This follows the general rule that loanwords in Spanish default to masculine gender.