The word "tuna" can function both as a noun and as a specific term in botany.
/tuˈna/
In Spanish, "tuna" primarily refers to two different entities depending on the context:
As a noun, "tuna" refers to a type of fruit that grows on the prickly pear cactus (genus Opuntia), which is commonly found in various regions including Guatemala and Colombia. This fruit is typically sweet and can be eaten fresh or used in drinks and desserts.
In the culinary world, "tuna" also refers to the fish, popular in many dishes across Spanish-speaking countries.
In terms of frequency of use, "tuna" in the context of the fruit is frequently used in oral speech, especially in rural areas where it is commonly harvested and eaten.
Me gusta comer tuna fresca en el verano.
I like to eat fresh prickly pear in the summer.
La ensalada de atún y tuna es muy deliciosa.
The tuna and prickly pear salad is very delicious.
En Guatemala, la tuna se vende en los mercados locales.
In Guatemala, prickly pear is sold in local markets.
The term "tuna" is not overly common in established idiomatic expressions; however, it can appear in regional phrases, particularly in relation to its fruit aspect and culinary applications.
"No me hables así, estás como la tuna."
"Don't talk to me like that, you are acting like a prickly pear."
Tener la tuna en la boca
Literally translates to "to have prickly pear in your mouth," meaning to be talkative or gossiping.
"Sigue hablando de los demás, tienes la tuna en la boca."
"You keep talking about others, you have prickly pear in your mouth."
No me importa la tuna
It means "I don’t care about the prickly pear," used to express indifference towards trivial matters.
The word "tuna" derives from the Latin word "tūna," which originally refers to a type of prickly pear. In Spanish, the term has been adapted to denote specific types of fruits from cacti as well as to refer to tuna fish, which is an unrelated term that has been borrowed from English and other languages.
Higo chumbo (a regional term for prickly pear)
For the fish (tuna):
The term "tuna" does not have direct antonyms but can be contrasted with other fruits or types of fish, such as: - For the fruit: Sandía (watermelon) - For the fish: Salmón (salmon)