jarabe de maíz
/xaˌɾabe de maˈiθ/masculine
The English phrase "corn syrup" is translated into Spanish as jarabe de maíz. Wiktionary also lists sirope / almíbar / arrope maicero.
Meaning: sticky sweet liquid (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| jarabe de maíz | /xaˌɾabe de maˈiθ/ /xaˌɾabe de maˈis/ |
masculine |
| sirope / almíbar / arrope maicero | masculine |
The term refers to a sticky sweet liquid. It is the standard term found in nutritional labeling and recipes.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase jarabe de maíz is a literal translation where jarabe means syrup and de maíz means of corn.
Which one should you use?
While jarabe de maíz specifically refers to corn syrup, almíbar is a more general term for a sugar syrup used in desserts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Jarabe de maíz is the neutral, standard term. Sirope de maíz is also a formal way to refer to corn syrup. In some contexts, sirope / almíbar / arrope maicero may be used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American regions, sirope is used instead of jarabe to refer to thick, sweet liquids.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is masculine. All provided forms are masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
/xaˌɾabe de maˈiθ/
Did you know?
- The word jarabe comes from the Arabic word šarāb, which refers to a drink. In modern Spanish, the word is used for both sweet syrups and medicinal cough syrups.
Examples in context
- ¿Tienes sirope de maíz?Do you have any corn syrup?
- El jarabe de maíz de alta fructosa es un ingrediente común en los alimentos procesados.High-fructose corn syrup is a common ingredient in processed foods.
- El jarabe de maíz es muy pegajoso.Corn syrup is very sticky.
- Necesito un poco de jarabe de maíz para el postre.I need a little corn syrup for the dessert.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are baking a cake in the kitchen.
- Sofía¿Tienes el jarabe de maíz?Do you have the corn syrup?
- DanielSí, lo tengo aquí en la alacena.Yes, I have it here in the pantry.
- SofíaPerfecto, lo usaremos para el glaseado.Perfect, we will use it for the icing.
- DanielToma, aquí tienes el frasco.Here, here is the jar.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “corn syrup” translations and entries jarabe de maíz, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries almíbar, arrope, de, jarabe, maicero, maíz, sirope, CC BY-SA 4.0.
