1997_ATA Annual Conf Proceedings_Fruits and Vegetables_Moskowitz

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(From “Fruit and vegetable terminology in the Spanish-speaking world: regional variation.”

Proceedings of the 38th Annual Conference of the American Translators Association, San

Francisco, California, U.S.A., November 5-9, 1997. Muriel M. Jérôme-O’Keeffe, comp.

American Translators Association, 1997. 233-261.)

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE TERMINOLOGY IN THE SPANISH-SPEAKING WORLD:

REGIONAL VARIATION

Andre Moskowitz

Keywords: Fruit, Vegetables, Spanish, Regionalisms, Terminology, Dialectology,

Lexicography, Sociolinguistics.

Abstract: This paper presents the findings of research that was conducted to determine the

different names used for certain fruits and vegetables in the countries of the Spanish-speaking

world.

0 INTRODUCTION

The paper is designed to serve as a practical guide to lexical usage by indicating the names used

for fruit and vegetable items in Spain and the nineteen Spanish-speaking countries of the

Western Hemisphere; it does not include information on usage in Equatorial Guinea. Like the

first maps of largely unexplored lands, the paper constitutes merely a first attempt to draw up the

lexical boundaries and much research remains to be done to map out the territory with greater

precision.

The title of each section is either the item’s common name(s) in United States English or, in

cases in which no common U.S. English equivalent exists, several of the Spanish language

names. With lesser known items, scientific names are also provided. The items are as follows:

FRUITS 1) apricot, 2) banana, 3) curuba / taxo/ tumbo, 4) grapefruit, 5) guaba /

guama / pacay 6) limoncillo / mamón / mamoncillo / quenepa, 7) lulo /

naranjilla, 8) orange, 9) papaya, 10) passion fruit, 11) peach, 12)

pineapple, 13) strawberry, 14) watermelon;

VEGETABLES 15) acho(c)cha / achogcha / pepino, 16) artichoke, 17) avocado, 18) bean

(generic), 19) beet, 20) cabbage, 21) chayote squash, 22) ear of corn, 23)

corncob, 24) cornhusk, 25) green bean / string bean, 26) green onion, 27)

melloco / olluco / papa lisa / uyuco, 28) pea, 29) sweet pepper / bell

pepper, 30) hot pepper / chili pepper, 31) potato, 32) squashes / pumpkins,

33) sweet potato, 34) tomato, 35) yuc(c)a / manioc / cassava.

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Each section is divided into two subsections:

1) Data by Country

2) Issues and Observations

0.1 Data by Country

The data by country subsections consist of tables in which the terms used in the Spanish-

speaking countries are presented. The data was collected through observation by the author in the

countries themselves and through direct questioning of informants. The direct questioning was

done by showing informants the actual items or a picture of them and asking them to give the

name most commonly used in their region, and also by asking native speakers of Spanish who

are highly proficient in English to give the equivalents of English language terms that are used in

their native regions.

The countries are listed in a geographical rather than alphabetical order to highlight what may be

called “lexico-geographic blocs,” or groups of countries that are in geographic proximity and

also share the same lexical usage for a given item.

Following each Spanish term, a numerical proportion is given indicating the number of

informants out of the total who used a particular term or gave it as their response to a question.

Thus, in the first table, “SPAIN albaricoque (8/8)” is to be interpreted as, “Of the eight

Spaniards who were observed referring to an ‘apricot’ or were asked to give the term they used

for this fruit, all eight gave the term albaricoque.”

In order to consolidate the information, the data for groups of countries is often presented in a

single line with the use of categories such as Hispanic Central America (Panama, Costa Rica,

Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala), Hispanic Antilles (Cuba, the Dominican

Republic and Puerto Rico) and Rest of Spanish America (all Spanish-speaking Latin American

countries that are not listed in the chart with an individual country specification).

When informants used or offered several similar variants, words or letters appear in parentheses

or separated by slashes. Thus, where melón (de agua) appears, informants indicated both melón

and melón de agua. When “[not common]” appears next to a country, it means the informants

from that country stated that the item was not common, and a question mark (?) indicates that the

author was unable to obtain data for that country but thinks the item may exist there.

0.2 Issues and Observations

In these subsections terminological, spelling and gender variation between and within particular

countries is addressed. Here, frequent references are made to specific provinces, departments,

states, cities and other geographical areas of countries such as Highlands (Sierra) and Coast

region (Costa). In many cases the usages indicated by the informants of this study are at odds

with those described in the 1992 edition of the Diccionario de la Lengua Española (the Spanish

Royal Academy Dictionary), henceforth referred to as the Real Academia. Although not without

its critics, this dictionary remains the most prestigious and widely consulted authority on the

Spanish language.

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Some etymological questions are also posed. In general, the early history of words, such as their

development from Latin to Spanish, has been extensively researched but their post-1492,

dialectological history has received less attention from scholars. The issue of why certain terms

have become predominant in some regions while other terms prevail in other regions is

addressed.

1 APRICOT

1.1 Data by Country

SPAIN albaricoque (8/8).

CHILE damasco (5/5).

ARGENTINA damasco (15/15).

URUGUAY damasco (6/6).

PARAGUAY damasco (4/4).

BOLIVIA damasco (5/5).

REST OF SPANISH AMERICA albaricoque or [not common] (65/65; 5/5 in each country).

MEXICO chabacano (15/15).


General: According to the Real Academia, albérchigo refers to albaricoque “en algunas partes”

and albericoque is listed as being used in Aragon, N. Burgos and Mexico. In which parts

of the Spanish-speaking world are these terms actually used in this sense?

Spanish America, except Southern Cone, Bolivia & Mexico: The fruit is not generally cultivated

in this region. To the extent the fruit exists here, it is called albaricoque.

2 BANANA

2.1 Data by Country

SPAIN plátano (14/14).

CHILE plátano (9/9).

ARGENTINA banana (15/15).

URUGUAY banana (7/7).

PARAGUAY banana (8/8).

BOLIVIA plátano (9/10), guineo (6/10), banana (4/10).

PERU plátano (12/14), guineo (3/14).

ECUADOR guineo (8/12), plátano (7/12).

COLOMBIA banano (15/22), plátano (7/22), guineo (4/22).

VENEZUELA cambur (9/9), guineo (2/9).

CUBA plátano/platanito (9/11), guineo (3/11).

DOMIN. REP. guineo (9/9).

PUERTO RICO guineo (12/12).

PANAMA guineo (11/11).

COSTA RICA banano (9/9).

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NICARAGUA banano (9/9).

HONDURAS mínimo (10/11), banano (8/11), guineo (8/11).

EL SALVADOR guineo (9/9).

GUATEMALA guineo (8/9), banano (8/9).

MEXICO plátano (15/15).


General: The terms listed above are those used in the respective countries in the sense of a

generic banana and/or the standard sized banana used for export. Tropical countries have

a host of different names for specific types of bananas (as well as many names for

different types of plantains).

Spain: Is guineo used in this sense in the Canary Islands?

Paraguay: Paková is the Guarani term.

Bolivia: Plátano is the predominant term in the Altiplano and guineo is used in el Beni. Guineo

and banana were given by people from the eastern lowlands (e.g. Santa Cruz).

Peru: Plátano is used in most of the country. Guineo was given by people from Piura and

Tumbes (northern cities).

Ecuador: Plátano is used in the northern and central Highlands (e.g. Quito). Guineo is used in

the Coast region (e.g. Guayaquil) and in the southern Highlands (e.g. Cuenca, Loja).

Colombia: Banano is the most frequently used term in most of the country. Plátano was given by

people from Bogota and guineo by people from the Atlantic Coast region (e.g.

Barranquilla, Cartagena, Santa Marta).

Venezuela: Cambur is the ‘national’ term. Guineo was given by people from Zulia.

Cuba: Plátano or Platanito are used in the western part of the country. Guineo was given by

people from eastern regions, including Santiago.

Guatemala: Guineo is used more in the countryside and among the lower socio-economic

classes. Banano is used more in the cities and by the middle and upper classes.

3 CURUBA / TAXO / TUMBO (Passiflora mollisima and other related species)

3.1 Data by Country

BOLIVIA tumbo (6/6).

PERU tumbo (5/5).

ECUADOR taxo (10/10), gullán (2/10).

COLOMBIA curuba (6/6).

VENEZUELA ?


General: Is this fruit common in other countries?

Ecuador: Taxo is the ‘national’ term. Gullán (sometimes spelled gulián) was given by people

from Cuenca.

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4 GRAPEFRUIT

4.1 Data by Country

SPAIN pomelo (15/15).

CHILE pomelo (9/9).

ARGENTINA pomelo (15/15).

URUGUAY pomelo (8/8).

PARAGUAY pomelo (8/9), greif(r)u(t) (7/9), toronja (4/9).

BOLIVIA toronja (9/13), pomelo (6/13), greif(r)u(t) (4/13), grei (2/13).

PERU toronja (15/15).

ECUADOR toronja (11/11).

COLOMBIA toronja (15/15), naranja grey (4/15).

VENEZUELA greif(r)u(t) (13/16), toronja (10/16).

CUBA toronja (13/14), greif(r)u(t) (3/14).

DOMIN. REP. toronja (8/8).

PUERTO RICO toronja (11/11).

PANAMA toronja (9/10), greif(r)u(t) (3/10).

COSTA RICA toronja (10/11), greif(r)u(t) (9/11).

NICARAGUA greif(r)u(t) (10/10), toronja (4/10).

HONDURAS toronja (8/8).

EL SALVADOR toronja (8/8), greif(r)u(t) (4/8), naranja grey (2/8).

GUATEMALA toronja (8/8).

MEXICO toronja (15/15).


General: Greif(r)u(t) is often pronounced greifu or greifú and tends to be feminine.

Spain: Toronja is listed in the Real Academia as “cidra de forma globosa como la naranja” with

no information on its genus or species or on its regional usage, and pomelo is defined as

“En algunas partes, toronja”. The Larousse bilingual dictionary defines toronja as

“seville orange, bitter orange” and also “grapefruit”. To what extent is toronja actually

used in Spain in the sense of “grapefruit”? If toronja and pomelo are both commonly

used in this sense, what determines which term a Spaniard uses? Age, socio-economic

class, region?

Paraguay: Pomelo, in the capital, and greif(r)u(t), in the countryside, refer to a variety with a

yellow skin. Toronja refers to a larger, pink-skinned variety.

Bolivia: Pomelo and toronja appear to be the most frequently used terms in the Altiplano.

Greif(r)u(t) and la grei were given by people from el Beni and the eastern lowlands.

Colombia & El Salvador: Naranja grey is also written naranja grei.

Venezuela, Cuba, Costa Rica & Nicaragua: A number of people stated that toronja refers to

slightly bitter, thick-skinned varieties that are used to make dulce, and

greif(r)u(t)__

sometimes pronounced graif(r)u(t) in Venezuela__

refers to varieties that are

eaten raw and used to make juice. Others indicated they use the two terms

interchangeably or only one for all varieties.

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5 GUABA / GUAMA / PACAY (Inga edulis, Inga feuillei, Inga laurina and other related

species)

5.1 Data by Country

BOLIVIA pacay (5/5).

PERU pacay (6/6), guaba (1/6).

ECUADOR guaba (10/10).

COLOMBIA guama (7/7), guaba (1/7).

VENEZUELA guama (5/5).

CUBA ?

DOMIN. REP. ?

PUERTO RICO ?

PANAMA guaba (7/7).

COSTA RICA guaba (8/8).

NICARAGUA guaba (5/5).

HONDURAS paterna (6/6).

EL SALVADOR paterna (8/8), guama (4/8).

GUATEMALA paterna (6/7), cushín (4/7).

MEXICO ?


Peru & Bolivia: The pacay of Bolivia and central and southern Peru is considerably smaller than

the varieties of guaba / guama / paterna found in tropical Spanish America. The Peruvian

who gave guaba was from Piura and indicated that the guaba is larger than the pacay.

The plural of pacay is pacais or pacayes.

Colombia: Guama is used in most of the country. Guaba was given by a person from

Buenaventura (on the Pacific coast).

Costa Rica: Guajiniquil or cuajiniquil refers to a similar fruit that is brownish on the outside and

smaller in size.

El Salvador: Pepeto and cujín/cushín refer to smaller varieties.

Guatemala: Paterna refers to a larger, green variety and cushín refers to a smaller, brown variety.

6 LIMONCILLO / MAMÓN / MAMONCILLO / QUENEPA (Melicoccus bijugatus)

6.1 Data by Country

COLOMBIA mamoncillo (5/6), mamón (2/6).

VENEZUELA mamón (6/6), mamoncillo (2/6).

CUBA mamoncillo (6/6).

DOMIN. REP. limoncillo (8/8), quenepa (5/8).

PUERTO RICO quenepa (9/9).

REST OF HISPANIC mamón (25/25; 5/5 in each country).

CENTRAL AMERICA

GUATEMALA ?

MEXICO ?

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Dominican Republic: Limoncillo is the term used in most of the country. Quenepa appears to be

more common in the South (e.g. San Juan, Barahona, San Cristobal).

7 LULO / NARANJILLA (Solanum quitoense, Solanum candidum and other related

species)

7.1 Data by Country

PERU ?

ECUADOR naranjilla (10/10).

COLOMBIA lulo (10/10).

VENEZUELA ?


General: Does this fruit grow outside of northwest South America? The Ecuadoran term derives

from naranja, but what is the etymology of lulo? Why did the indigenous name(s) used

prior to 1492 in the territory that is now Ecuador get displaced by naranjilla?

8 ORANGE

8.1 Data by Country

SPAIN naranja (8/8).

DOMIN. REP. china (9/9).

PUERTO RICO china (12/12).

REST OF SPANISH AMERICA naranja (85/85; 5/5 in each country).


Dominican Republic & Puerto Rico: China refers to sweet oranges. There is a sour and bitter

variety called naranja agria.

Cuba: Sweet oranges are sometimes called naranja dulce or naranja (de) china and the sour and

bitter variety is naranja agria.

9 PAPAYA

9.1 Data by Country

SPAIN papaya (6/6).

CHILE papaya (6/6).

ARGENTINA mamón (5/8), papaya (3/8).

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URUGUAY [not common] (6/6).

PARAGUAY mamón (7/7).

BOLIVIA papaya (6/6).

PERU papaya (11/11).

ECUADOR papaya (12/12).

COLOMBIA papaya (14/17), lechosa/lechoza (4/17).

VENEZUELA lechosa/lechoza (10/10).

CUBA fruta bomba (12/15), papaya (11/15).

DOMIN. REP. lechosa/lechoza (11/11).

PUERTO RICO papaya (10/12), lechosa/lechoza (10/12).

HISPANIC CENTRAL papaya (35/35; 5/5 in each country).

AMERICA & MEXICO


General: The fruit is imported to non-tropical countries such as Spain, Chile and Uruguay.

Argentina: Mamón grows in the northeastern part of the country (especially Misiones). How

familiar are Argentines from other regions with the term papaya and is this familiarity the

result of foreign influence and/or imported varieties? To what extent do the two terms

compete?

Colombia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic & Puerto Rico: Lechosa or lechoza? The term

derives from leche + the suffix -osa and therefore the s-form is in some sense ‘correct’

but both spellings are widely used and the persistence of the z-form may be due in part to

the existence of the word choza. Nine out of eleven from the Dominican Republic spelled

the word with a z.

Colombia: Papaya is used in most of the country. Lechosa was given by people from Santander,

Norte de Santander, el Cesar and Arauca (eastern departments).

Cuba: Fruta bomba is the preferred term in Havana where papaya (a vulgar word for “vagina”)

is taboo. Papaya appears to be the most frequently used term in the sense of the fruit in

the eastern part of the country, including Santiago. People from a number of regions

stated that both terms were commonly used in the sense of the fruit.

Estar en su papayal: In which countries is this expression commonly used? All those in which

papaya is used? And does the phrase have meanings other than, “to be comfortable, to be

in one’s element”?

10 PASSION FRUIT

10.1 Data by Country

PARAGUAY ?

BOLIVIA maracuyá (5/5).

PERU maracuyá (11/11).

ECUADOR maracuyá (12/12).

COLOMBIA maracuyá (12/12).

VENEZUELA parchita (6/6).

CUBA ?

DOMIN. REP. chinola (7/7).

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PUERTO RICO parcha (9/9).

PANAMA maracuyá (8/8).

COSTA RICA maracuyá (6/6).

NICARAGUA calala (4/6), maracuyá (3/6).

HONDURAS maracuyá (9/9).

EL SALVADOR granadilla de fresco (4/5), maracuyá (1/5).

GUATEMALA ?

MEXICO ?


General: Maracuyá is generally masculine.

Spain: The fresh fruit is not yet commonly available but one person stated that canned or bottled

maracuyá juice is becoming popular.

Peru & Bolivia: The fruit grows mainly in the Amazon regions.

Venezuela: Parcha refers to a different fruit.

Cuba: Julia Morton’s Fruits of Warm Climates states that ceibey is used in this sense. Is this

true?

Panama: Several people indicated maracuyá is feminine.

El Salvador: Granadilla de fresco seems to refer to a wild variety that is somewhat different

from the commercially grown varieties of maracuyá.

11 PEACH


SPAIN melocotón (13/13).

CHILE durazno (10/10).

ARGENTINA durazno (15/15).

URUGUAY durazno (7/7).

PARAGUAY durazno (7/7).

BOLIVIA durazno (6/6).

PERU durazno (11/14), melocotón (9/14).

ECUADOR durazno (10/10).

COLOMBIA durazno (15/15), melocotón (7/15).

VENEZUELA durazno (9/10), melocotón (9/10).

CUBA melocotón (9/9).

DOMIN. REP. melocotón (7/7).

PUERTO RICO melocotón (9/9).

PANAMA melocotón (7/8), durazno (5/8).

COSTA RICA durazno (6/6), melocotón (3/6).

NICARAGUA melocotón (3/3).

HONDURAS durazno (5/6), melocotón (4/6).

EL SALVADOR durazno (7/9), melocotón (6/9).

GUATEMALA durazno (8/10), melocotón (8/10).

MEXICO durazno (15/15).

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General: Melocotón and durazno are the generic names in Spain and most of Spanish America,

respectively. Abridero, abridor, albérchigo, durazno, paraguaya/paraguayo, pérsico and

prisco are listed as names for specific varieties in the Real Academia. Where are these

terms used and what varieties do they refer to?

Spanish America: In many countries durazno is considered to be the native peach and melocotón

refers to canned and/or imported varieties. In areas such as the Hispanic Antilles and

Nicaragua that have only tropical climates the tree is hard to grow and the fruit exists

primarily as a canned import.

Peru: Durazno refers to a larger variety; melocotón to a smaller variety. Huesillo refers to a dried

peach.

El Salvador & Guatemala: Melocotón refers to a larger, native variety of peach and durazno to a

smaller one.

Durazno al jugo; melocotón en almíbar: These expressions appear to be set phrases in which the

other term is not substituted. Are there native speakers of Spanish who spontaneously say

melocotón al jugo or durazno en almíbar?

12 PINEAPPLE


SPAIN piña (12/12).

ARGENTINA ananá (15/15).

URUGUAY ananá (7/7).

PARAGUAY piña (11/11).

REST OF SPANISH AMERICA piña (80/80; 5/5 in each country).


Spain: The Real Academia defines ananá and ananás in the sense of the fruit in question and

states that piña is a synonym. To what extent is ananá(s) actually used in Spain? If the

two terms in fact compete, what determines which term a Spaniard uses? Age, socio-

economic class, region?

Argentina & Uruguay: Why is ananá the predominant term in Argentina and Uruguay when piña

appears to be the term used in the rest of the Spanish-speaking world? Both the Real

Academia and the Diccionario Crítico Etimológico Castellano e Hispánico by Corominas

state that ananá and ananás derive from Guarani naná by way of Portuguese ananás. As

Corominas points out, direct Guarani influence is somewhat hard to sustain given that the

Guarani term is not used in Paraguay, the country that would logically have the most

influence from this indigenous language. The fact that ananá is generally written without

the s in Argentina and Uruguay also lends some credence to the notion that its use in the

River Plate region may derive orally from the French ananás.

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13 STRAWBERRY


SPAIN fresa (14/14).

CHILE frutilla (11/11).

ARGENTINA frutilla (15/15).

URUGUAY frutilla (8/8).

PARAGUAY frutilla (9/9).

BOLIVIA frutilla (11/11).

PERU fresa (16/16), frutilla (4/16).

ECUADOR frutilla (14/14).

COLOMBIA fresa (15/15).

REST OF SPANISH AMERICA fresa (55/55; 5/5 in each country).


General: The fruit is exported to countries that do not have cool climates. Fresa is the

‘international’ term and is familiar to many people in the ‘frutilla countries’.

Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia & Ecuador: Why did frutilla become the

predominant term in these countries?

Peru: Fresa is the predominant term in most of the country. Frutilla seems to be used only in

parts of the Highlands. Why did frutilla not become the most commonly used term in

Peru? Is this due to the fact that Lima, as the seat of the Spanish Viceroyalty, received a

steady influx of the terminology that was current in Spain? What other factors may have

contributed?

14 WATERMELON


SPAIN sandía (14/14).

REST OF HISPANIC sandía (35/35; 5/5 in each country).

SOUTH AMERICA

COLOMBIA patilla (13/18), sandía (8/18).

VENEZUELA patilla (10/10).

CUBA melón (de agua) (15/15).

DOMIN. REP. pa(s)tilla (10/10).

PUERTO RICO melón (de agua) (10/10).

HISPANIC CENTRAL sandía (35/35; 5/5 in each country).

AMERICA & MEXICO


Colombia: Patilla is used in the eastern part of the country and sandía in the west, especially in

the southwestern departments of Valle del Cauca, Cauca and Nariño.

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Dominican Republic: A number of people queried pronounced the word as if it were written

pastilla, often with an aspirated s. This may be part of a general tendency to insert a

hypercorrect s known as hablar fisno [< fino] (Lipski: 239).

15 ACHO(C)CHA / PEPINO (Cyclanthera pedata)


BOLIVIA ?

PERU ?

ECUADOR achoccha/achogcha (5/9), achocha (4/9).

COLOMBIA pepino (5/5).

VENEZUELA ?


General: Does this vegetable grow in other countries? The Ecuadoran terms derive from

Quechua/ Quichua whereas the Colombian term, pepino, is not of indigenous origin. It

appears that Spanish settlers in Colombia, upon encountering a phenomenon that was

new to them, applied a term for a vegetable that back in Spain bore some resemblance.

Why, however, did words of indigenous origin become predominant in Ecuador and a

non-indigenous word in Colombia? One possible explanation is that prior to 1492 there

may have been several, unrelated indigenous terms used in the territory that is present-

day Colombia. If so, pepino would have faced a divided opposition from (and may have

displaced) the indigenous words used there. It is possible that in Ecuador the

Quechua/Quichua variants did not face strong competition from terms of other

indigenous languages and attempts made by Spanish settlers to impose ‘imported terms’

encountered a united opposition and were unsuccessful.

Ecuador: Achoccha and achogcha are used in the Highlands; achocha in the Coast region.

16 ARTICHOKE


SPAIN alcachofa (8/8), alcaucil (1/8).

ARGENTINA alcaucil (15/15).

URUGUAY alcaucil (7/7).

REST OF SPANISH AMERICA alcachofa (85/85; 5/5 in each country).


Spain: Alcaucil was given by a person from Alicante. Alcaucil and alcaucí are listed in the Real

Academia as synonyms of alcachofa and as a wild variety of the plant. In what regions of

the country are alcaucil and alcaucí commonly used in the general sense of “artichoke”?

Argentina & Uruguay: Can the use of alcaucil in these countries be linked to a high level of

immigration from regions of Spain where this term is, or at one time was predominant?

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17 AVOCADO


SPAIN aguacate (12/12).

CHILE palta (9/9).

ARGENTINA palta (15/15).

URUGUAY palta (6/6).

PARAGUAY aguacate (11/11).

BOLIVIA palta (9/10), aguacate (4/10).

PERU palta (12/12).

ECUADOR aguacate (15/15).

REST OF SPANISH AMERICA aguacate (60/60; 5/5 in each country).


Bolivia: Palta is used in the Altiplano. Aguacate was given by people from the eastern lowlands.

South America: Palta, according to the Real Academia, derives from Quechua and is,

understandably, the predominant term in Peru and much of highland Bolivia. Why,

however, did this term become predominant in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile but not in

Paraguay and Ecuador?

18 BEAN (GENERIC)


SPAIN judía (12/15), alubia (9/15) habichuela (5/15).

CHILE poroto (10/10).

ARGENTINA poroto (15/15).

URUGUAY poroto (6/6).

PARAGUAY poroto (7/7).

BOLIVIA poroto (10/11), frejol (5/11), frijol (2/11).

PERU frejol (17/20), frijol (8/20), poroto (2/20).

ECUADOR fréjol (9/12), frejol (6/12), poroto (5/12).

COLOMBIA fríjol (16/20), frisol (7/20), frijol (5/20).

VENEZUELA caraota (11/11).

CUBA frijol (14/14).

DOMIN. REP. habichuela (8/10), frijol (3/10).

PUERTO RICO habichuela (10/10).

HISPANIC CENTRAL frijol (35/35; 5/5 in each country).

AMERICA & MEXICO

14


General: The above terms refer to the varieties of generic beans (i.e. not “lima beans” or

“lentils,” etc.) that are cultivated in the different regions. There are many other terms for

specific types of beans.

Spain: Some claim that alubia, habichuela and judía are synonyms. Others indicate the three

terms refer to three different types of beans and still others use only one term to refer to

beans in general. Alubia seems to be particularly prevalent in the northern part of the

country. The Real Academia defines fréjol (with no regional specification), frijón

(Andalusia and Extremadura) and frísol (with no regional specification) as synonyms of

judia. Which terms are used in which regions and what type of beans do they refer to?

Paraguay: Cumandá is the Guarani term.

Bolivia: Chuís was given by several people in the sense of dried, colored beans that children play

with.

Peru: Poroto was given by people from Tacna.

Ecuador: Fréjol is the most commonly used term in the northern and central Highlands. Frejol is

the most often used in the Coast region. Poroto is the most common in the southern

Highlands.

Colombia: Fríjol is used in most of the interior but frisol is used in Antioquia and Caldas. Frijol

was given by people from the Atlantic Coast region.

Cuba: Several people indicated that judía refers to a white bean.

Dominican Republic: Habichuela is used in most of the country; frijol was given by people from

el Cibao.

Panama: Poroto refers to a type of kidney bean.

Guatemala: Piloy refers to a large, reddish brown bean.

19 BEET


SPAIN remolacha (14/14), betarraga (1/14).

CHILE betarraga (9/12), beterraga (7/12).

ARGENTINA remolacha (15/15).

URUGUAY remolacha (6/6).

PARAGUAY remolacha (7/7).

BOLIVIA beterraga (9/9).

PERU beterraga (17/20), betarraga (6/20).

ECUADOR remolacha (11/20), veteraba (9/20).

COLOMBIA remolacha (15/15).

VENEZUELA remolacha (8/8).

HISPANIC ANTILLES remolacha (45/45; 5/5 in each country).

& CENTRAL AMERICA

MEXICO betabel (19/20), remolacha (5/20).

15


General: Betarrata is listed in the Real Academia but where is this term actually used? Do all of

the terms beginning with beta or veta derive from the French betterave? What is the

etymology of betabel?

Spain: Betarraga was given by a person from Galicia. Where is this term used?

Ecuador: Remolacha is used in the Highlands and veteraba in the southern Coast region. In the

northern Coast region (e.g. Esmeraldas) both of these terms appear to be common.

Veteraba was the spelling given by the costeños who were interviewed and is the way it

is spelled in the produce section of Guayaquil supermarkets. Was this term ever spelled

beterava or beteraba in Ecuador, spellings which would be closer to the word’s

etymological root?

Mexico: Betabel is the most frequently used term but some claim that betabel and remolacha

refer to two different varieties of beet. Do Mexican specialists make this distinction?

20 CABBAGE


SPAIN col (12/16), repollo (12/16).

CHILE repollo (11/11).

ARGENTINA repollo (15/15).

URUGUAY repollo (7/7).

PARAGUAY repollo (7/7).

BOLIVIA repollo (9/9).

PERU col (17/20), repollo (9/20).

ECUADOR col (9/10), repollo (2/10).

COLOMBIA repollo (22/22), col (7/22).

VENEZUELA repollo (10/10).

CUBA col (10/12), repollo (4/12).

DOMIN. REP. repollo (9/9).

PUERTO RICO repollo (11/13), col (6/13).

HISPANIC CENTRAL AMERICA repollo (30/30; 5/5 in each country).

MEXICO repollo (19/25), col (13/25).


General: According to the Real Academia, berza is a synonym of col, repollo is more compact

than col and has leaves that are more tightly wrapped, and bretón is a certain variety of

col. For which regions of the Spanish-speaking world do these descriptions conform to

actual usage?

Spain: Several people indicated that berza and lombarda refer to red or purple cabbage. What are

the meanings of berza, bretón, col, lombarda and repollo in the different regions?

Spanish America: Most people use either col or repollo (not both) to refer to this vegetable and

the word used depends on region as indicated in the above chart and in the explanations

given below. However, some claim that col refers to a larger variety and repollo to a

smaller one. To the extent that a speaker’s choice of term depends on region (and not on

16

the type of cabbage being referred to), what theories can explain the regional distribution

of the two terms?

Peru: Col is the most frequently used term in Lima. Repollo seems to be common in parts of the

Highlands and in the South (e.g. Arequipa, Tacna).

Ecuador: Col is used in most of the country. Repollo was given by people from Esmeraldas and

el Carchi (provinces bordering Colombia).

Colombia: Some claim col and repollo refer to two different varieties of cabbage but most use

repollo exclusively. Tallo is listed in the Real Academia as “bretón o col”. In what

regions of Colombia do people actually use this term in this sense?

Mexico: Col is predominant in some regions (it appears to be the most commonly used term in

the Distrito Federal) and repollo in other areas (particularly in the North). People from a

number of regions indicated the two terms are synonymous.

21 CHAYOTE SQUASH (Sechium edule)


COLOMBIA yota (3/3).

VENEZUELA chayota (8/8).

CUBA chayote (8/8).

DOMIN. REP. tayota (10/10).

PUERTO RICO chayote (8/8).

PANAMA chayote (7/7).

COSTA RICA chayote (5/5).

NICARAGUA chayote (7/9), chaya (4/9).

HONDURAS pataste (6/6).

EL SALVADOR güisquil (8/10), güisayote (4/10).

GUATEMALA güisquil (7/7).

MEXICO chayote (16/17), chinchayote (4/17).


General: Is this plant limited to Central America and the Caribbean basin?

Colombia: Yota was given by people from Bucaramanga but the vegetable is apparently not

common in many areas of the country.

Nicaragua: Chayote is the predominant term in most of the country. Chaya was given by people

from Matagalpa, Jinotega and Estelí (northern cities).

El Salvador & Guatemala: Güisquil and güisayote are also written huisquil and huisayote,

respectively.

Hispanic Central America: The most common varieties tend to have a prickly surface.

Mexico: Chayote is the predominant term. Few people interviewed were familiar with

chinchayote but of those that were, some claimed it was a larger variety of the vegetable

whereas others indicated it was the plant’s edible root; the latter conforms to the Real

Academia’s description.

17

22 EAR OF CORN


SPAIN mazorca (12/14), panocha (2/14), panoja (1/14), panoya (1/14).

REST OF HISPANIC choclo (35/35; 5/5 in each country).

SOUTH AMERICA

COLOMBIA mazorca (16/19), choclo (6/19), chócolo (3/19).

VENEZUELA jojoto (9/9).

HISPANIC ANTILLES mazorca (15/15; 5/5 in each country).

PANAMA mazorca (7/7).

REST OF HISPANIC CENTRAL elote/mazorca (30/30; 5/5 in each country).

AMERICA & MEXICO


Spain: Mazorca (de maíz) is the term used in most Spanish-speaking regions of the country. The

other terms were given by people from specific areas: panocha (Alicante, Castille),

panoja (Valencia) and panoya (Asturias). The Real Academia lists pinocha as being used

in Aragon and piña with no regional specification, but who, if anyone, actually uses piña

in this sense?

Hispanic South America: In theory, there are two terms for “ear of corn”: mazorca for dry corn

and choclo for young or green corn. Mazorca, however, is rarely used outside of

Colombia. Is this because dry ears of corn are not generally consumed in this region or is

it due to other factors?

Colombia: Mazorca is used in most of the country. Choclo and chócolo are used in the

southwestern departments of Valle del Cauca, Cauca and Nariño.

Hispanic Central America & Mexico: Mazorca is used for a dry ear of corn and elote for a young

or green ear. Jilote was given by a Salvadoran in the sense of “un elote muy tierno”. The

Real Academia lists jilote as “mazorca de maíz cuando sus granos no han cuajado aún”

and lists chocoyo as a synonym of “mazorca de maíz” in Honduras. Where are jilote and

chocoyo actually used and in what senses?

23 CORNCOB


SPAIN carozo (3/3).

CHILE coronta (6/6).

ARGENTINA marlo (12/12).

URUGUAY marlo (5/5).

PARAGUAY avati ygũe (3/3).

BOLIVIA marlo (9/9).

PERU coronta (10/13), tusa (3/13).

ECUADOR tusa (5/5).

COLOMBIA tusa (11/11).

VENEZUELA tusa (5/5).

18

HISPANIC ANTILLES tusa (15/15; 5/5 in each country).

PANAMA tusa (7/7).

REST OF HISPANIC CENTRAL olote (30/30; 5/5 in each country).

AMERICA & MEXICO


General: Many Spanish speakers are not familiar with any name for this item, especially in

countries where corn is not an important staple. The Real Academia lists garojo

(Cantabria), raspa (with no regional specification), tuco (Asturias) and zuro (with no

regional specification). In which regions (of Spain and beyond) are these terms actually

used?

Paraguay: Avati ygũe is the Guarani term.

Peru: Coronta appears to be the most frequently used term in most of the country. Tusa was

given by people from Tumbes, Piura and Trujillo.

Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Hispanic Antilles & Panama: Many educated people are

uncertain as to whether the word is spelled tusa or tuza. Tusa is the spelling accepted by

the Real Academia since it derives from tuso, an archaic past participle of tundir.

24 CORNHUSK


SPAIN ?

CHILE ?

ARGENTINA chala (12/12).

URUGUAY chala (4/4).

PARAGUAY chala (3/3).

BOLIVIA chala (4/4).

PERU panca (7/7).

ECUADOR ?

COLOMBIA amero (4/4).

VENEZUELA ?

CUBA ?

DOMIN. REP. ?

PUERTO RICO ?

PANAMA ?

REST OF HISPANIC tusa (25/25; 5/5 in each country).

CENTRAL AMERICA

MEXICO ?

19


General: Many Spanish speakers are not familiar with any name for this item other than hoja de

maíz, hoja de choclo, hoja de elote, etc. (see section 22), and such terms were frequently

given by people from practically every country. The people interviewed from the

countries listed with a question mark gave only these responses or said there was no

specific name used in their country.

Hispanic Central America: Many educated people are uncertain as to whether the word is spelled

tusa or tuza (see section 23).

25 GREEN BEAN / STRING BEAN


SPAIN judía verde (17/19), alubia verde (2/19), bajoca (1/19).

CHILE poroto verde (10/10).

ARGENTINA chaucha (15/15).

URUGUAY chaucha (6/6).

PARAGUAY chaucha (6/6).

BOLIVIA vainita (8/8).

PERU vainita (11/11).

ECUADOR vainita (11/11).

COLOMBIA habichuela (15/15).

VENEZUELA vainita (10/10).

CUBA habichuela (15/15).

DOMIN. REP. vainita (10/10).

PUERTO RICO habichuel(it)a tierna (10/12), habichuela verde (7/12).

PANAMA habichuela (8/8).

COSTA RICA vainica (9/9).

NICARAGUA frijol(ito) verde (8/10), vainita (3/10).

HONDURAS frijol(ito) verde (8/8), vaina (3/8), habichuela verde (2/8).

EL SALVADOR ejote (10/10).

GUATEMALA ejote (9/9).

MEXICO ejote (15/15).


Spain: Judía verde is the predominant term in most of the Spanish-speaking regions of the

country but alubia verde was given by Spanish speakers from Galicia and Pamplona.

Bajoca was given by a person from Valencia and, according to the Real Academia, is also

used in Murcia. Where are alubia verde and bajoca actually used in this sense?

20

26 GREEN ONION


SPAIN cebolleta (6/9), cebollín (4/9).

CHILE cebollín (7/7).

ARGENTINA cebolla de verdeo (15/15), cebollín (2/15).

URUGUAY cebolla de verdeo (6/6), cebollín (3/6).

PARAGUAY cebolla de hoja (5/5).

BOLIVIA cebolla verde (3/4), cebolla en hoja (2/4).

PERU cebolla china (13/13).

ECUADOR cebolla blanca (10/10).

COLOMBIA cebolla larga (10/13), cebolla junca (3/13), cebollín (2/13).

VENEZUELA cebollín (5/5).

CUBA cebollino (7/7).

DOMIN. REP. cebollín (3/3).

PUERTO RICO cebollín (3/3).

PANAMA cebollina (3/3).

COSTA RICA cebollín (3/3).

NICARAGUA ?

HONDURAS cebollina (5/5).

EL SALVADOR cebollín (3/3).

GUATEMALA cebollín (5/5).

MEXICO cebolla (de) cambray (10/15), cebolla de rabo (5/15).


General: The terms in the above chart refer to different types of “green onions” ranging in size

from thin ones to those that are almost as thick as “leeks”. In some countries the part of

the onion that is used is the lower, white part of the stem, not the green shoots (which are

often thrown away) whereas in other countries people eat only the upper, green part (and

throw away the white part). The cebolla + modifier terms are often used with an -ita

diminutive (e.g. cebollita china).

Argentina & Uruguay: Cebolla de verdeo refers to a thicker green onion whereas cebollín refers

to a thinner one.

Colombia: Cebolla larga is used in many regions of the country whereas all those who gave

cebolla junca were from Bogota.

27 MELLOCO / OLLUCO / PAPA LISA / UYUCO (Ullucus tuberosus)


CHILE ?

ARGENTINA ?

BOLIVIA papa lisa (5/5).

PERU olluco (4/4).

ECUADOR melloco (10/10).

21

COLOMBIA uyuco/ulluco (5/5).

VENEZUELA ?


General: Does this tuber grow in other countries? Olluco, melloco and uyuco/ulluco appear to be

of indigenous origin. Do they derive from Quechua/Quichua? Papa lisa is a term that was

probably coined by Spanish settlers in their efforts to describe a phenomenon that was

new to them. Why did this invented term become predominant in the Spanish of Bolivia

when words of purely indigenous origin are used in the Spanish of the other three

countries? One possible explanation lies in the fact that highland Bolivia has two

unrelated indigenous languages, Aymara and Quechua, with a more or less equal number

of speakers. An invented term (papa lisa) would have faced a divided opposition from

indigenous terms and may have more easily gained a foothold and eventually squeezed

out the purely indigenous terms. In highland Peru, Ecuador and southwestern Colombia,

in contrast, the different dialects of Quechua or Quichua did not face any strong

competition and therefore any attempts made by Spanish settlers to oust the respective

indigenous term and impose a coined one would have encountered a united opposition

and would have been less likely to succeed.

Colombia: Uyuco or ulluco is cultivated mainly in the southwestern departments of Valle del

Cauca, Cauca and Nariño.

28 PEA


SPAIN guisante (14/14).

CHILE arveja (9/9).

ARGENTINA arveja (15/15).

URUGUAY arveja (6/6).

PARAGUAY arveja (7/8), alverja (4/8).

BOLIVIA alverja (8/8), arveja (5/8).

PERU alverja (15/17), arveja (8/17).

ECUADOR alverja (11/12), arveja (6/12).

COLOMBIA alverja (17/17), arveja (9/17).

VENEZUELA petit pois (6/8), arveja (5/8).

CUBA petit pois (13/15), chícharo (13/15).

DOMIN. REP. petit pois (7/7).

PUERTO RICO petit pois (9/9).

PANAMA petit pois (8/10), guisante (4/10), alverja (3/10).

COSTA RICA alverja (6/7), petit pois (6/7).

NICARAGUA petit pois (7/7).

HONDURAS chícharo (5/7), petit pois (5/7).

EL SALVADOR alverja (6/7), petit pois (4/7).

GUATEMALA alverja (9/11), arveja (4/11).

MEXICO chícharo (15/15).

22


Hispanic Central America & Caribbean basin: In a number of countries in this region petit pois is

used in the sense of canned peas and is pronounced [PI-ti PUA(S)] or [PI-ti PO-as]. The

other terms__

arveja, alverja and chícharo__

generally refer to fresh or dried peas.

Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador & Guatemala: In

all of these countries there is some degree of competition between arveja and alverja. In

general, arveja is considered the ‘correct’ term and alverja the incorrect, popular variant.

However, alverja’s level of acceptance varies. In Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, for

example, alverja is practically universal and arveja is primarily used by the most cultured

and/or linguistically conscious citizens (some consider its use somewhat snobbish),

whereas in other countries (Paraguay, Bolivia, Guatemala?), the use of alverja may really

carry a social stigma.

Pigeon peas: Gandul and its variants (gandur, guandul, guandur and guandú) are used to refer to

a flatter type of pea in a number of countries in the Caribbean basin, especially the

Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Panama.

29 SWEET PEPPER / BELL PEPPER


SPAIN pimiento (13/13).

CHILE pimentón (10/11), pimiento (4/11).

ARGENTINA morrón (15/23), pimiento (13/23), ají (8/23).

URUGUAY morrón (7/7).

PARAGUAY locote (8/8).

BOLIVIA pimentón (8/11), pimiento (6/11).

PERU pimiento (15/18), pimentón (6/18).

ECUADOR pimiento (10/10).

COLOMBIA pimentón (14/17), ají dulce (3/17).

VENEZUELA pimentón (10/10).

CUBA pimiento (11/15), ají (grande) (8/15).

DOMIN. REP. ají (grande) (8/8).

PUERTO RICO pimiento (verde) (11/12), ají dulce (7/12).

PANAMA pimentón (6/9), ají dulce (5/9), pimiento (4/9).

COSTA RICA chile (dulce) (9/9).

NICARAGUA chiltoma (8/8).

HONDURAS chile dulce (9/11), chile verde (8/11).

EL SALVADOR chile verde (12/12).

GUATEMALA pimiento (8/11), chile pimiento (7/11), chile dulce (4/11).

MEXICO pimiento (12/22), chile (8/22), morrón (6/22).

23


General: The above terms refer to generic sweet peppers and to the varieties most common in

each country. There are many other names for specific varieties. Pimiento morrón is used

in a number of countries to refer to red bell peppers. Some countries, notably Argentina,

Uruguay and Mexico, tend to shorten this to morrón.

Argentina: For some morrón refers specifically to red bell peppers that have been cut, processed

and canned or bottled. Others use morrón to refer in general to red bell peppers. And

others use it to refer to any bell pepper, red, green or otherwise. Variants such as ají

morrón and pimiento morrón are also used.

Colombia: Pimentón is used in most of the country. Ají dulce was given by people from the

Atlantic Coast region.

Cuba & Puerto Rico: Pimiento and pimiento verde refer to larger, fatter types of sweet peppers

whereas ají, ají dulce and ají grande refer to smaller, thinner varieties that are shaped like

chili peppers but are not hot.

Hispanic Central America & Mexico: “Bell peppers” and “hot peppers” are not necessarily

viewed as items belonging to two separate categories, especially in Mexico where there is

a whole range of chiles from sweet to very hot, each with a separate name often

consisting of the word chile + a modifier (e.g. chile jalapeño, chile poblano). The latter,

for example, is not clearly a “sweet pepper” or a “hot pepper” but shares features of both:

it looks somewhat like a smallish, bell pepper and tastes somewhere between hot and

sweet.

30 HOT PEPPER / CHILI PEPPER


SPAIN guindilla (10/13), pimiento picante (3/13).

HISPANIC SOUTH AMERICA ají (45/45; 5/5 in each country).

CUBA ají picante (12/12).

DOMIN. REP. ají picante (7/7).

PUERTO RICO ají (picante) (9/9).

PANAMA ají (picante) (10/10).

COSTA RICA chile (picante) (8/8).

REST OF HISPANIC CENTRAL chile (25/25; 5/5 in each country).

AMERICA & MEXICO


General: Most of the above terms are used in the sense of generic hot peppers. Many countries

have various types, each with a specific name typically consisting of ají or chile + a

modifier.

Spain: Guindilla refers to a specific type of hot pepper.

Argentina: Ají can refer to hot peppers or sweet peppers. Ají picante refers to hot peppers in

general and ají puta parió refers to a specific type of hot pepper that is most common in

Argentina which some soften to ají PP. One person from Uruguay also gave ají puta

parió.

24

Paraguay: Ku’ĩ is the Guarani term and is used more often by Spanish speakers than ají.

Bolivia & Peru: Locoto and rocoto, in Bolivia and Peru, respectively, refer to a separate class of

short, round hot peppers that look somewhat like bell peppers, but beware for they are

quite potent. Ají, in most of Hispanic South America, refers to the class of longer,

skinnier hot peppers that are similar to the hot chiles of Mexico and Hispanic Central

America.

Cuba & Dominican Republic: One must generally specify ají picante since ají often refers to a

type of sweet pepper (see section 29).

Puerto Rico & Panama: One does not need to specify ají picante; ají will generally suffice.

Costa Rica: One must generally specify chile picante as chile will tend to be understood to mean

sweet pepper.

31 POTATO


SPAIN patata (14/14).

SPANISH AMERICA papa (95/95; 5/5 in each country).


Spain: Is papa used in the Canary Islands?

Spanish America: Potatoes are not as common in countries that do not have cool climates such as

those of the Hispanic Antilles.

32 SQUASHES / PUMPKINS


SPAIN calabaza (7/7).

CHILE zapallo (5/5).

ARGENTINA zapallo (14/14), calabaza (5/14).

URUGUAY zapallo (4/4), calabaza (1/4).

PARAGUAY zapallo (4/4), calabaza (2/4).

BOLIVIA zapallo (7/7), lacayote (4/7).

PERU zapallo (10/11), calabaza (2/11).

ECUADOR zapallo (5/5), zambo/sambo (5/5).

COLOMBIA auyama (5/7), zapallo (4/7), calabaza (4/7).

VENEZUELA auyama (8/8).

CUBA calabaza (7/7).

DOMIN. REP. auyama (5/5).

PUERTO RICO calabaza (5/5).

PANAMA zapallo (5/5), auyama (2/5), calabaza (2/5).

COSTA RICA ayote (6/6), zapallo (3/6).

NICARAGUA ayote (5/5), calabaza (2/5).

HONDURAS ayote (5/5) pipián (3/5).

25

EL SALVADOR ayote (6/7), pipián (5/6), calabaza (3/7).

GUATEMALA ayote (7/7), güicoy (5/7).

MEXICO calabaza (14/14).


General: The above terms refer, in the respective countries, to some of the different types of

pumpkins and squashes that are native to each region.

Bolivia, Peru & Ecuador: In Ecuador zambo or sambo refers to a round, light green and white

striped squash on the outside that is white on the inside. Does the term lacayote refer to

the same type of squash in Bolivia and Peru? Is Curcubita ficifolia the scientific name for

this variety?

“Zucchini”: Preliminary research turned up the following terms for this type of squash:

calabacín (Spain, Colombia?, Venezuela?, Puerto Rico), calabacita (Mexico), zapall(it)o

italiano (Chile, Argentina, Bolivia?, Peru), zuquini (Ecuador).

Miscellaneous: Cayota, cayote, cidra and cidra cayote are listed in the Real Academia as

referring to certain varieties of squashes (including chayote, see section 21) and anco and

hoco are listed in Americanismos, Diccionario Ilustrado Sopena. Where are these terms

used and what types of squashes or pumpkins do they refer to? What other common

names are there for varieties of squashes/pumpkins and what are their corresponding

scientific names?

33 SWEET POTATO


SPAIN batata (12/17), boniato (10/17).

CHILE camote (10/10).

ARGENTINA batata (20/24) camote (11/24).

URUGUAY boniato (6/6).

PARAGUAY batata (7/7).

BOLIVIA camote (7/7).

PERU camote (14/14).

ECUADOR camote (11/11).

COLOMBIA batata (11/11).

VENEZUELA batata (10/10).

CUBA boniato (15/15).

DOMIN. REP. batata (8/8).

PUERTO RICO batata (10/10).

HISPANIC CENTRAL camote (35/35; 5/5 in each country).

AMERICA & MEXICO

26


General: The above terms are not all equivalent to the United States “sweet potato” (Ipomoea

batatas) but refer to a wide range of sweet potato-like tubers. What are the scientific

names corresponding to each of the above common names, as used in the respective

countries?

Spain: Buniato and moniato are listed in the Real Academia as synonyms of boniato whose

definition, in turn, is quite similar to that of batata. Do all four refer to the same tuber? In

which regions are buniato and moniato commonly used?

Argentina: Batata and camote seem to refer to the same tuber. Batata is used in most of the

country whereas camote is predominant in northwestern regions (Mendoza, San Juan,

Catamarca, La Rioja, Salta and Jujuy).

34 TOMATO


SPAIN tomate (7/7).

REST OF SPANISH AMERICA tomate (90/90; 5/5 in each country).

MEXICO jitomate (8/13), tomate (7/13).


Mexico: Preliminary research suggests that in central Mexico jitomate is used for the red tomato

(Lycopersicon esculentum) and tomate refers to Physalis ixocarpa, a small, green,

tomato-like fruit sometimes called a “husk tomato”. In northern Mexico, in contrast,

tomate refers to the red tomato and tomatillo refers to the husk tomato. According to the

Real Academia, miltomate is also used in Mexico in the sense of the husk tomato. Are

there parts of Mexico where this is true? Southern Mexico? In what regions of the

country are the above terms used in the two senses?

Guatemala: Miltomate refers to the husk tomato.

35 YUC(C)A / MANIOC / CASSAVA (Maniot esculenta and other related species)


SPAIN [not common] (10/10).

CHILE [not common] (8/8).

ARGENTINA mandioca (10/10).

URUGUAY mandioca (3/6), [not common] (3/6).

PARAGUAY mandioca (7/7).

REST OF SPANISH AMERICA yuca (75/75; 5/5 in each country).


Argentina: Mandioca grows mostly in the northeastern part of the country, especially Misiones.

27

Mexico: Yuca exists in the southern part of the country but apparently is not very common in the

North. Guacamote is defined in the Real Academia as a Mexicanism, “especie de

mandioca,” but none of the Mexicans interviewed for this study had ever heard of this

word used in any sense. Where is guacamote used and what (if any) variety of this tuber

does it refer to?

United States: Signs in supermarkets generally say “yuca” or “yucca” to refer to the tuber Maniot

esculenta (yuca or mandioca) and do not usually say “manioc” or “cassava”. However,

despite the prevailing usage, several English language dictionaries (including The

American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language) list only “manioc” and

“cassava” in the sense of the tuber and only define “yucca” as “plants of the genus

Yucca” (a totally unrelated plant). “Yuca” should be listed in English language

dictionaries in the sense of the tuber since, due to the influence of Spanish, it has become

the de facto term in the United States for this item.

APPENDIX I: MISCELLANEOUS REGIONALISMS

Celery cabbage or Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis): Nabo is used in Ecuador.

Chontaduro / pejibaye / pifá (Guilielma gasipaes, Bactris gasipaes): Chontaduro is used in

Colombia and Ecuador whereas pifá / pi(s)bá are used in Panama, pejibaye / pejiballe in

Costa Rica, and pijibaye in Nicaragua; all of the above words are masculine. Pixbae is

the preferred spelling in Panama. Many Costa Ricans are uncertain as to whether the term

should be spelled pejibaye or pejiballe. The former is the one accepted by the Real

Academia which also lists pijibay as a variant used in both Costa Rica and Honduras.

Where is pijibay actually used? What other countries have this item (generally eaten

boiled and believed to be an aphrodisiac), and what names are used for it in each?

Ciruela / jocote (Spondias purpurea L.): Ciruela is used in Colombia and Ecuador to refer to the

fruit that in Hispanic Central America is called jocote.

Cucumber: Cocombro and pepino cocombro are used in Colombia whereas only pepino is used

in most other Hispanic countries. The Real Academia defines cohombro as a “variedad de

pepino”. Do Spaniards generally distinguish pepinos from cohombros and do they use the

latter term? Is the term cohombro used anywhere outside of Spain? (See section 15 for

the meaning of pepino in Colombia.)

Ginger: Kión is used in Peru instead of jengibre, which is used in most Hispanic countries. Is

kión of Chinese origin?

Malanga / yautía: The tuber that in Cuba is called malanga is called yautía in the Dominican

Republic and Puerto Rico. Does this item exist in other Spanish-speaking regions

(Central America?) and what are the names for it?

Mamey / níspero / zapote: According to one observer, the fruit known in Cuba as mamey is

called zapote in Central America whereas the Cuban zapote is the Central American

níspero (Lipski: 20). Other travelers have indicated that mamey and zapote refer to the

same fruit in western Cuba (e.g. Havana) and eastern Cuba (e.g. Santiago), respectively.

And a Dominican that this author met in Ecuador also indicated that the terms mamey and

zapote referred to the opposite fruits in Ecuador and the Dominican Republic, in other

words, that mamey-Ecuador = zapote-Dominican Republic and vice versa. What

scientific names do chicozapote, mamey, níspero, zapote and zapotillo refer to as used in

the different regions of tropical Spanish America?

28

(Type of) parsnip (Arracacia xanthorrhiza): Apio is used in eastern Colombia, arracacha in

western Colombia and zanahoria blanca in Ecuador. Are chirivía and pastinaca in Spain

the same species as “parsnip” in the United States (Pastinaca sativa)?

Plum: Claudia and reina claudia are used in Ecuador and ciruelo is used in Bolivia (for both

fruit and tree), instead of ciruela, which is the term used for the fruit in most Hispanic

countries. (See ciruela / jocote above.)

Rutabaga (Brassica napobrassica): Papanabo chino is used in Ecuador.

Star fruit / carambola (Averrhoa carambola, Averrhoa bilimbi?): Grosella china is used in

Ecuador whereas carambola is used in several countries of Hispanic Central America and

the Hispanic Antilles. Julia Morton’s Fruits of Warm Climates states that the following

terms are also used in this sense: vinagrillo (Dominican Republic), tiriguro (Costa Rica),

tamarindo chino (Venezuela) and pepino de la India (El Salvador). Which countries have

this fruit and what are the names for it in each?

Turnip (Brassica rapa): Papanabo is used in Ecuador, instead of nabo which is used in most

Hispanic countries.

APPENDIX II: UNKNOWN ETYMOLOGIES

The Real Academia does not provide etymologies for the terms listed below and does not list the

words that appear with an asterisk (*). Some etymologies, such as those for limoncillo and

mamón, are obvious but nonetheless should be listed.

amero*, auyama*, betabel*, calala*, cambur, cuajiniquil*, cujín*, curuba*,

cushín*, chabacano, chaucha, chiltoma*, chontaduro, chuís*, gandul, guaba,

guacamote, guajiniquil*, guama, guandú, güicoy*, güisayote*, gulián*, gullán*,

jojoto, kión*, lacayote, limoncillo*, locote, locoto, lulo*, mamón, maracuyá*,

marlo, melloco, olluco, paterna*, pejibaye, pepeto*, pifá*, pijibay, piloy*, pipián,

pisbá*, pixbae*, quenepa*, taxo*, tumbo*, ulluco, uyuco*, veteraba*, yota*.

REFERENCES

1983. Americanismos, Diccionario Ilustrado Sopena. Barcelona: Gráficas Ramón Sopena.

Brücher, Heinz. 1989. Useful Plants of Neotropical Origin and Their Wild Relatives. Berlin:

Springer-Verlag.

Corominas, Joan and José A. Pascual. 1980. Diccionario Crítico Etimológico Castellano e

Hispánico. Madrid: Editorial Gredos.

Dahlgren, Bror Eric. 1947. Tropical and Subtropical Fruits. Chicago: Chicago Natural History

Museum.

García-Pelayo, Ramón. 1983. Gran Diccionario Moderno Español/Inglés English/Spanish

Larousse. Mexico City: Ediciones Larousse.

29

Gentry, Alwyn H. 1996. A Field Guide to the Families and Genera of Woody Plants of

Northwest South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru) with supplementary notes on

herbaceous taxa. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Gove, Philip Babcock, ed. 1986. Webster’s Third International Dictionary. Springfield,

Massachusetts: Merriam-Webster Inc., Publishers.

Lipski, John M. 1994. Latin American Spanish. New York: Longman Group Limited.

Morton, Julia F. 1987. Fruits of Warm Climates. Miami: Distributed by Creative Resource

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Real Academia Española. 1992. Diccionario de la Lengua Española. Twenty-First Edition.

Madrid: Espasa-Calpe, S.A.

Rehm, Sigmund and Gustav Espig. 1991. The Cultivated Plants of the Tropics and Subtropics.

Cultivation, Economic Value, Utilization. Weikersheim, Germany: Verlag Josef Margraf.

Rehm, Sigmund. 1994. Multilingual Dictionary of Agronomic Plants. Dordrecht: Kluwer

Academic Publishers.

Ruskin, F. R., Hugh Popenoe, et al. 1989. Lost Crops of the Incas: little-known plants of the

Andes with promise for worldwide cultivation. Washington, D.C.: National Academy

Press.

Schultes, Richard Evans and Robert F. Raffauf. 1990. The Healing Forest. Medicinal and Toxic

Plants of the Northwest Amazonia. Portland, Oregon: Dioscorides Press.

Soukhanov, Anne H., ed. 1996. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language.

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.2

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