Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say "Nutmeg" in Spanish: Nuez Moscada
Nuez Moscada · noun (feminine) · noo-EHS mohs-KAH-dah
Nutmeg in Spanish is nuez moscada (literally musk nut). It is a two-word compound noun — nuez (nut) + moscada (musky). The spice is used in both sweet and savory dishes across the Spanish-speaking world.
noo-EHS mohs-KAH-dah — stress on EHS in nuez and KAH in moscada.
Agrega una pizca de nuez moscada a la salsa bechamel.
Add a pinch of nutmeg to the béchamel sauce.
How Native Speakers Use Nuez Moscada
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
In a recipe
La receta pide media cucharadita de nuez moscada rallada.
The recipe calls for half a teaspoon of grated nutmeg.
Nuez moscada rallada (grated nutmeg) is the most common form in cooking instructions.
At the spice store
¿Tienen nuez moscada entera o solo molida?
Do you have whole nutmeg or only ground?
Entera (whole) vs. molida (ground) are the two forms available at markets.
Describing flavor
El ponche de huevo lleva canela, clavo y nuez moscada.
Eggnog has cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
Nutmeg is part of the classic warm-spice trio alongside canela and clavo in Latin holiday drinks.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Nuez Moscada
Saying just nuez for nutmeg
Incorrect: Ponle nuez a la salsa.
Correct: Ponle nuez moscada a la salsa.
Nuez alone means walnut in most Spanish-speaking countries. You must include moscada to specify nutmeg. Without it, people will think you mean walnuts.
Making it masculine
Incorrect: El nuez moscado está en el estante.
Correct: La nuez moscada está en el estante.
Nuez is feminine (la nuez) and moscada agrees in feminine form. The whole compound is feminine: la nuez moscada.
Lock in Nutmeg 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 Nuez Moscada used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using nuez moscada in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Agrega una pizca de nuez moscada a la salsa bechamel. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Nutmeg in Spanish
- How do you say nutmeg in Spanish?
- Nutmeg is nuez moscada in Spanish. The literal translation is musk nut. It's the same term everywhere in the Spanish-speaking world — there are no significant regional alternatives.
- Is nuez moscada one word or two?
- It's two words: nuez moscada. They always appear together when referring to the spice. Nuez alone means walnut (or nut generically), and moscada alone means musky. Together they form the compound noun for nutmeg.
- What is the difference between nuez and nuez moscada?
- Nuez by itself means walnut (or generically, nut). Nuez moscada specifically means nutmeg — a completely different spice from the Myristica tree. Always use the full term nuez moscada when you mean nutmeg.