Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Plums in Spanish
Ciruelas · noun · see-RWEH-lahs
The Spanish word for plums is 'ciruelas,' the plural of the feminine noun 'ciruela.' Plums are enjoyed fresh throughout Latin America and Spain, and dried plums (prunes) are called 'ciruelas pasas.' The fruit comes in various colors from purple to yellow, and the word is consistent across all Spanish-speaking regions.
Ciruelas is pronounced see-RWEH-lahs. The stress falls on the second syllable 'rue.' The 'c' before 'i' sounds like 's' in Latin America and 'th' in Spain.
Las ciruelas están maduras y listas para comer.
The plums are ripe and ready to eat.
Plums in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for plums, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| ciruelas | plums | see-RWEH-lahs | Default, widely understood |
| ciruela | plums | singular form | |
| ciruelas pasas | plums | prunes (dried plums) |
How Native Speakers Use Ciruelas
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
At the market
Compré un kilo de ciruelas en el mercado.
I bought a kilo of plums at the market.
Shopping for fruit at a local market.
Making jam
Mi tía prepara mermelada de ciruela cada verano.
My aunt makes plum jam every summer.
Describing a family tradition of preserving fruit.
Dried plums
Las ciruelas pasas son buenas para la digestión.
Prunes are good for digestion.
Discussing the health benefits of dried plums.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ciruelas
Wrong gender
Incorrect: El ciruela está muy dulce.
Correct: La ciruela está muy dulce.
Ciruela is a feminine noun, so it requires the feminine article 'la' and feminine adjective endings.
Inventing a false word
Incorrect: Quiero comprar unas plumas de fruta.
Correct: Quiero comprar unas ciruelas.
Pluma means feather or pen in Spanish — the correct word for plum is 'ciruela.'
Lock in Plums 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 Ciruelas used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using ciruelas in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Las ciruelas están maduras y listas para comer. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Plums in Spanish
- What are ciruelas pasas?
- Ciruelas pasas are dried plums, known as prunes in English, commonly eaten as a snack or used in cooking for their natural sweetness and digestive benefits.
- Is ciruela masculine or feminine?
- Ciruela is a feminine noun, taking the article 'la' in singular (la ciruela) and 'las' in plural (las ciruelas).
- Are plums common in Latin American cuisine?
- Plums are widely available in markets throughout Latin America and appear in desserts, jams, and traditional holiday dishes, particularly during the harvest season.