Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sémola de maíz | /semola de maiθ/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /semola de mais/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| sémola maicera | /semola maiθeɾa/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /semola maiseɾa/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| chuchoca | /t͡ʃut͡ʃoka/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| gachas | /ˈɡat͡ʃas/ | feminine, plural |
| poleadas | /poleˈadas/ | feminine, plural |
| farinetas | /faɾinetas/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, plural |
| fariñas | /faɾiɲas/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, plural |
| sanco | /sanko/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| sango | /sanɡo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
The term refers to coarsely ground corn. In many contexts, the term polenta may also be used to refer to grits depending on the context. You may also describe it descriptively as una preparación hecha con maíz molido, which means a preparation made from ground corn.
What does it mean word for word?
The term sémola de maíz literally translates to 'corn semolina'.
Which one should you use?
The forms used depend on whether you are discussing the grain or the final dish. While sémola de maíz refers to the grain itself, gachas refers to the cooked, porridge-like consistency often made from such grains.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Chile, the term chuchoca is used specifically to refer to a type of corn meal or grits.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word gachas is a feminine plural noun and is almost always used in its plural form.
Did you know?
- The word maíz is not of European origin but was borrowed from the Taíno language of the Caribbean. It entered the Spanish vocabulary through the indigenous peoples who first encountered the crop.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, polenta is the preferred term for this dish due to the heavy influence of Italian immigration in the Southern Cone.
- The word chuchoca in Chile refers specifically to corn that has been toasted before being ground, giving it a distinct smoky flavor.
Examples in context
- ¿Has probado alguna vez el puré de maíz? Es muy similar a los grits.Have you ever tried corn puree? It's very similar to grits.
- La sémola de maíz es un desayuno común.Corn grits are a common breakfast.
- Prefiero la sémola de maíz con mantequilla.I prefer corn grits with butter.
- ¿Compraste la sémola de maíz para la receta?Did you buy the corn grits for the recipe?
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are in the kitchen making breakfast.
- Mateo¿Tienes sémola de maíz en la despensa?Do you have corn grits in the pantry?
- LucíaSí, tengo un paquete para nosotros.Yes, I have a package for us.
- MateoPerfecto, la prepararé con un poco de sal.Perfect, I will prepare it with a little salt.
- LucíaMe encanta ese desayuno, Mateo.I love that breakfast, Mateo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grits” translations and entries chuchoca, gachas, poleadas, fariñas, 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 de, maíz, CC BY-SA 4.0.
