Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Aprendí a preparar salsa de cacahuate al estilo casero, y la uso en mis tacos. - I learned to make homemade peanut sauce, and I use it on my tacos.

In Spanish, when a verb like aprender (to learn) is followed by an infinitive, it typically requires the preposition a. Thus, aprendí a preparar means “I learned how to prepare.” This construction helps clearly indicate what action is learned.

What does salsa de cacahuate mean, and is cacahuate the only term for “peanut” in Spanish?

Salsa de cacahuate translates to “peanut sauce.” In many Latin American countries, cacahuate is the common term for peanut. In other regions, you might also come across maní. Both terms are correct, but their usage depends on the local dialect.

How does the phrase al estilo casero contribute to the meaning of the sentence?

The phrase al estilo casero means “in the homemade style.” It specifies that the peanut sauce is prepared in a traditional, home-cooked way rather than a commercial or industrial manner. This detail gives the sauce a personal, authentic touch.

Why is the pronoun la used in y la uso en mis tacos?

The pronoun la substitutes for salsa de cacahuate to avoid repetition. Since salsa is a feminine noun in Spanish, the corresponding direct object pronoun is la. This makes the sentence more fluent by linking back to the previously mentioned sauce.

Why is there a comma before y in the sentence, and is it necessary?

The comma before y separates two independent clauses—one about learning to prepare the sauce and the other about using it on tacos. While in Spanish a comma before y isn’t always required, it can be used for clarity or to indicate a slight pause. In this case, it’s a stylistic choice rather than a strict grammatical rule.