Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate
How to Say Starch in Spanish: Almidón
Almidón · noun (masculine) · ahl-mee-DOHN
Starch in Spanish is almidón, a masculine noun referring to the white carbohydrate found in foods like rice, potatoes, and corn. It is also used for laundry starch applied to fabric to make it stiff and crisp.
Almidón is pronounced ahl-mee-DOHN, with the stress on the final syllable. The accent mark on the o indicates this stress.
El arroz y las papas son alimentos ricos en almidón.
Rice and potatoes are foods rich in starch.
Starch in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for starch, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| almidón | starch | ahl-mee-DOHN | Default, widely understood |
| fécula | starch | culinary or scientific context for starch extract |
How Native Speakers Use Almidón
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Nutrition discussion
El médico me recomendó reducir el consumo de almidón.
The doctor recommended I reduce my starch intake.
Receiving dietary advice during a medical consultation.
Cooking
Agrega una cucharada de fécula de maíz para espesar la salsa.
Add a tablespoon of cornstarch to thicken the sauce.
Following a recipe that calls for a thickening agent.
Laundry
Mi abuela usaba almidón para planchar las camisas.
My grandmother used starch to iron shirts.
Describing a traditional laundry technique.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Almidón
Confusing almidón with almendra
Incorrect: Este pan tiene mucha almendra.
Correct: Este pan tiene mucho almidón.
Almendra means almond, while almidón means starch. Despite sounding similar, they refer to completely different things.
Using wrong gender
Incorrect: La almidón hace la ropa más rígida.
Correct: El almidón hace la ropa más rígida.
Almidón is masculine, so it takes the article el, not la.
Lock in Starch 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 Almidón used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Starch in Spanish
- How do you say starch in Spanish?
- Starch is almidón (ahl-mee-DOHN) in Spanish, used for both the dietary carbohydrate and the laundry product.
- What is fécula de maíz?
- Fécula de maíz is cornstarch, the fine white powder extracted from corn kernels and widely used as a cooking thickener in Latin American and Spanish cuisine.
- Is almidón used in cooking or laundry?
- Almidón is used in both contexts: in cooking it refers to the carbohydrate found in grains and tubers, and in laundry it refers to the spray or liquid applied to fabric to stiffen it.