yuca
/ˈʝuka/feminine
The Spanish word for cassava is yuca. Wiktionary also lists cashcamote.
Meaning: root vegetable (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| yuca | /ˈʝuka/ | feminine |
| cashcamote | /kaskamote/ (from spelling rules) | Guatemala, masculine |
yuca refers to the cassava root vegetable.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Guatemala, the term cashcamote is used to refer to cassava.
How does it change in a sentence?
yuca is a feminine noun, so it is used with the feminine article la (e.g., la yuca).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʝuka/
Did you know?
- Because yuca amarga contains naturally occurring cyanide, it must be grated and squeezed in a tipití basket to be safe for consumption.
- Because yuca is a borrowed word from Taíno, it serves as a linguistic fossil of the pre-Columbian Caribbean that survived the Spanish conquest.
- In some Caribbean cultures, a common side dish is yuca frita, which is prepared similarly to French fries but has a denser, starchier texture.
Examples in context
- La yuca es muy común aquí.Cassava is very common here.
- ¿Quieres comer yuca frita?Do you want to eat fried cassava?
- Compré una yuca muy grande.I bought a very large cassava.
Example conversation
At a local grocery market.
- MaríaHola, ¿tiene yuca fresca?Hello, do you have fresh cassava?
- JavierSí, tengo mucha yuca hoy.Yes, I have a lot of cassava today.
- MaríaPerfecto, dame dos piezas, por favor.Perfect, give me two pieces, please.
- JavierClaro, aquí tienes, María.Sure, here you go, María.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cassava” translations and entries yuca, cashcamote, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries yuca, CC BY-SA 4.0.
