Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ocra | /ˈokɾa/ | masculine |
| quingombó | /kinɡomˈbo/ | masculine |
| quimbombó | /kimbomˈbo/ | masculine, alternative form |
| molondrón | /molonˈdɾon/ | masculine |
| abelmosco | /abelˈmosko/ | Mexico, masculine |
| ñajú | /ɲaxu/ (from spelling rules) | Peru |
All forms of the word refer to the edible capsules of A. esculentus.
Which one should you use?
The different terms used for okra are largely determined by the geographic region and local linguistic influences. While ocra is a standard term, other names like quingombó or molondrón are used in specific areas.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Spanish speakers use different words for okra depending on where they are. In Mexico, the word is abelmosco. In Peru, it is called ñajú. In the Caribbean, particularly in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, molondrón is common. In Cuba and other parts of the Caribbean, the term quingombó is used, which reflects influences from West African languages. You may also see the spelling quimbombó used as an alternative to quingombó.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈokɾa/
Did you know?
- The term quingombó is a linguistic bridge between West Africa and the Caribbean, arriving in Spanish through the Portuguese word 'quingombó' and the Kimbundu word 'kingombo'.
- The word abelmosco used in Mexico is actually the Spanish name for the plant's genus, *Abelmoschus', making it a botanical name used in common speech.
- The word abelmosco used in Mexico shares a root with 'musk', reflecting the plant's kinship with the musk mallow family.
Examples in context
- María, ¿sabes dónde puedo conseguir el quingombó para preparar el gumbo?Maria, do you know where I can find okra to make gumbo?
- Durante la conferencia, mencionaron que la ocra es un alimento nutritivo y versátil.During the conference, they mentioned that okra is a nutritious and versatile food.
- Voy a preparar un guiso con el quimbombó que compré en el mercado.I'm going to make a stew with the okra I bought at the market.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are shopping at a grocery store.
- SofíaMira, Mateo, encontraron ocra hoy.Look, Mateo, they found okra today.
- MateoNo sé cómo cocinar la ocra.I don't know how to cook okra.
- SofíaYo puedo enseñarte a prepararla.I can teach you how to prepare it.
- MateoEstá bien, llevemos un poco.Alright, let's take some.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “okra” translations and entries ocra, quingombó, quimbombó, molondrón, abelmosco, ñajú, 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 ocra, quingombó, CC BY-SA 4.0.
