leche de vaca
Lemma: leche de vaca
Translation: cow's milk; cow milk (noun phrase)
Etymology: From Spanish 'leche' (milk) + 'de' (of) + 'vaca' (cow). 'Leche' derives from Latin 'lac, lactis', which shares the same Indo-European root as English 'lactose' and 'lactation'. 'Vaca' comes from Latin 'vacca' (cow), which is related to Sanskrit 'vāśitā' (cow that lows).
Mnemonics
- Think of 'vaca' sounding like 'vacate' - cows vacate (empty) their udders to give milk.
- Picture a cow (vaca) giving leche (milk) - the direct connection makes this phrase easy to remember.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
Cow's milk is a staple in Spanish cuisine and is used in many traditional dishes and desserts. In rural areas of Spain and Latin America, fresh cow's milk is still commonly consumed, though pasteurized milk is standard in urban areas.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'leche de vaca' refers to milk from cows, 'leche de soya' refers to soy milk, a plant-based alternative.
Notes: In Spanish-speaking countries, 'leche' by itself typically refers to cow's milk unless specified otherwise.
Mnemonic: 'Vaca' has a 'V' like 'Vertebrate' (animal), while 'soya' is a plant.