Spanish Phrase
Las carnes magras, los frijoles y las lentejas dan proteína.
Meaning
The sentence states that lean meats, beans, and lentils are sources of protein. It highlights three common protein‑rich foods in a typical Spanish‑speaking diet, emphasizing that they all 'give' (provide) protein.
When to use
Use this phrase when talking about nutrition, planning a balanced meal, or explaining why certain foods are good for building muscle or staying healthy. It works well in health‑class discussions, cooking blogs, or casual conversation about diet.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lascarnesmagras,losfrijolesylaslentejasdanproteína.
Noun + adjective order
In Spanish the adjective usually follows the noun, so 'carnes magras' (lean meats) not 'magras carnes'.
Plural article agreement
Use 'las' for feminine plural nouns (carnes, lentejas) and 'los' for masculine plural nouns (frijoles).
Conjunction 'y'
The word 'y' (and) links items in a list without a comma before it.
Verb agreement
When the subject is a compound list, the verb takes plural form: 'dan' (they give).
Accent on 'proteína'
The stress falls on the penultimate syllable, so an accent is required: proteína.
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué alimentos debería incluir en mi dieta para obtener suficiente proteína?
What foods should I include in my diet to get enough protein?
Las carnes magras, los frijoles y las lentejas dan proteína.
Lean meats, beans, and lentils provide protein.
✕Common Mistakes
Las carnes magras, los frijoles y las lentejas da proteína.
The verb must agree with the plural subject; use 'dan' not 'da'.
Las carnes magro, los frijoles y las lentejas dan proteína.
When describing a plural noun, the adjective must also be plural: 'magras', not 'magro'.
Las carnes magras, los frijoles y las lentejas dan proteina.
Missing the accent on the í changes the stress and is orthographically incorrect.
↔Alternatives
Las carnes magras, los frijoles y las lentejas aportan proteína.
Lean meats, beans, and lentils contribute protein.
Con carnes magras, frijoles y lentejas obtienes proteína.
With lean meats, beans, and lentils you get protein.
Estos alimentos (carnes magras, frijoles y lentejas) son ricos en proteína.
These foods (lean meats, beans, and lentils) are rich in protein.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, beans (frijoles) and lentils (lentejas) are staple proteins, especially in vegetarian or budget‑friendly meals. Lean cuts of meat such as pollo sin piel or carne de res magra are common in health‑focused diets. When talking about nutrition, it's polite to avoid implying that a diet is 'better' than another; instead, frame it as 'these foods provide protein' rather than 'you should eat only these'.