choclo
fresh corn on the cob, Ecuador
In Ecuador fresh corn on the cob is called choclo. The general word for the crop is maíz. Separately, mote is hominy, meaning cooked corn kernels eaten as a side dish.
Meaning: corn, maize (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| choclo | fresh corn on the cob, Ecuador |
| maíz | standard |
| mote | cooked hominy, Ecuador |
At the market you ask for choclos to buy ears of tender corn. A classic snack is choclo con queso, corn with fresh cheese.
Which one should you use?
Maíz is the standard word and Ecuadorians use it too, especially for dried corn and flour. Choclo is for the soft fresh ears. Mote is the cooked kernels.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Choclo is also used in Peru, Chile and Argentina, while in Mexico people say elote for corn on the cob.
Did you know?
- The word choclo comes from Quechua.
Examples in context
- Quiero un choclo con queso.I want corn on the cob with cheese.
- Compramos mote en el mercado.We bought hominy at the market.
- El maíz crece bien en la sierra.Corn grows well in the highlands.
Example conversation
Rosa buys corn from a seller at a market in Cuenca.
- RosaBuenos días. ¿A cómo está el choclo?Good morning. How much is the corn?
- VendedoraUn dólar los dos, mi reina.One dollar for two, dear.
- RosaDeme cuatro, por favor.Give me four, please.
