Pumpkin spice
Meaning: A flavor combination (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice) associated with American fall culture.
Pumpkin spice has become the definitive flavor of American autumn. Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) launched in 2003 and started a cultural phenomenon. Now everything gets the pumpkin spice treatment: coffee, cookies, candles, cereal, even deodorant. It's both beloved and mocked as a symbol of basic American fall culture.
Examples
- It's September — time for pumpkin spice everything. 九月到了——万物皆可南瓜拿铁。Es septiembre — llega la temporada de pumpkin spice en todo.9月だ——パンプキンスパイスの季節到来。9월이다 — 뭐든지 펌킨 스파이스 시즌 도래.
- She waited in line for 30 minutes to get the first pumpkin spice latte of the season. 她为了买到本季第一杯南瓜拿铁排了30分钟的队。Ella hizo cola durante 30 minutos para conseguir el primer pumpkin spice latte de la temporada.彼女はシーズン最初のパンプキンスパイスラテを買うのに30分も並んだ。그녀는 시즌 첫 펌킨 스파이스 라떼를 사려고 30분이나 줄을 섰어.
- They even make pumpkin spice dog treats now — it's gotten out of hand. 他们现在连南瓜味的狗零食都出了——太夸张了。Ahora hasta hacen galletas para perros con sabor a pumpkin spice — se les ha ido de las manos.パンプキンスパイス味の犬用おやつまであるなんて——もう行き過ぎだよ。펌킨 스파이스 맛 강아지 간식까지 나왔다니 — 이건 좀 도를 넘었어.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: fall season, coffee, seasonal trends
Tone: excited or sarcastic
✓ Do Say
- Pumpkin spice season is here!南瓜香料季来了!¡Ha llegado la temporada del pumpkin spice!パンプキンスパイスの季節が来た!펌킨 스파이스 시즌이 왔어!
- Have you tried the pumpkin spice latte yet?你试过南瓜拿铁了吗?¿Ya has probado el pumpkin spice latte?パンプキンスパイスラテもう飲んだ?펌킨 스파이스 라떼 마셔봤어?
✗ Don't Say
- Mocking someone for liking pumpkin spice has become just as predictable as liking it — let people enjoy things嘲笑别人喜欢南瓜味已经和喜欢它本身一样俗套了——让人们享受自己喜欢的东西吧Burlarse de alguien por gustarle el pumpkin spice se ha vuelto tan predecible como que te guste — deja que la gente disfruteパンプキンスパイス好きをバカにするのは、好きなこと自体と同じくらいお決まりになっている——人の好きなものは好きにさせてあげよう누군가가 펌킨 스파이스를 좋아한다고 놀리는 것도 좋아하는 것만큼이나 뻔해졌습니다 — 사람들이 좋아하는 것을 즐기게 놔두세요
Origin & History
Pumpkin pie spice has existed since the 1930s, but the cultural obsession started with Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte in 2003. It generates over $500 million in annual sales and has become a meme and cultural marker of American fall.
Cultural Context
Era: 2003 PSL launch, cultural phenomenon from 2010s
Generation: All ages, especially associated with millennials
Social background: Universal
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