onza

ounce

noun ON-sah Rare

Origin: From Latin uncia (one-twelfth part), also the root of 'inch'.

Usage Note

Onza is the standard Spanish word for the unit of weight (both the troy ounce for precious metals and the avoirdupois ounce in cooking). It is also an archaic name for the snow leopard or jaguar in some regional texts. In recipes from Latin America, onza is used more commonly than in Spain, where metric units dominate.

Examples

"La receta pide dos onzas de chocolate negro."

Natural Translation

The recipe calls for two ounces of dark chocolate.

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