leche condensada
Lemma Details
Translation: condensed milk; sweetened condensed milk
Part of Speech: noun phrase
Etymology: Compound term from 'leche' (milk) and 'condensada' (condensed). 'Leche' derives from Latin 'lac, lactis', sharing roots with English 'lactose' and 'lactation'. 'Condensada' comes from Latin 'condensare' (to make dense or thick), related to English 'condense'. Condensed milk was invented in the 1850s by Gail Borden as a way to preserve milk before refrigeration was common.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Para hacer el flan, necesitas leche condensada y huevos.
To make flan, you need condensed milk and eggs.
Añade la leche condensada a la mezcla para endulzarla.
Add the condensed milk to the mixture to sweeten it.
El café con leche condensada es muy popular en muchos países latinoamericanos.
Coffee with condensed milk is very popular in many Latin American countries.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'condensed' as 'con dense' - milk WITH dense sweetness
- Imagine a can being 'condensed' (made smaller) as the water is removed from the milk
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
Leche condensada is a staple ingredient in many Latin American desserts and sweet treats. It's commonly used in popular desserts like tres leches cake, flan, and as a topping for fruits or ice cream. In Spain and Latin America, it's often used to sweeten coffee. During economic hardships or in areas with limited refrigeration, condensed milk became particularly important as a shelf-stable dairy product.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While both are concentrated forms of milk, 'leche condensada' (condensed milk) has sugar added and is much sweeter, whereas 'leche evaporada' (evaporated milk) is unsweetened and simply has water removed.
Confused word:
La receta requiere leche evaporada, no leche condensada.
The recipe calls for evaporated milk, not condensed milk.
Notes: Leche condensada is always sweetened, while leche evaporada is unsweetened. They cannot be used interchangeably in recipes without significantly altering the taste.
Mnemonic: Condensada is candy-sweet; evaporada is just evaporated (no sugar added).