pacana
/paˈkana/feminine
The English word "pecan" can be translated into Spanish using pacana. Wiktionary also lists nuez pecana and pecana.
Meaning: nut (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pacana | /paˈkana/ | feminine |
| nuez pecana | /nweθ pekana/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /nwes pekana/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| pecana | /peˈkana/ | feminine |
| pecán | /peˈkan/ | masculine |
| nuez de la isla | /nweθ de la isla/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /nwes de la isla/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| nuez encarcelada | /nweθ enkaɾθelada/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /nwes enkaɾselada/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
Which one should you use?
The term nuez pecana is the most common way to specify the specific type of nut by using nuez (nut) as the head noun. Other forms include pecán, which is a masculine noun and pacana, which is a feminine noun.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, pecana is the most widely used and accepted term for "pecan".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase nuez pecana functions as "pecan nut", where nuez acts as the primary noun being described.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈkana/
Did you know?
- While many people call them pacana, the name itself is a linguistic traveler. It is a phonetic adaptation of a word from the Algonquin language of North America, rather than a word with Latin or Greek roots.
- Depending on the country, a speaker might use nuez de la isla, which means 'nut of the island'.
- If you simply ask for nuez in a Spanish-speaking bakery or market, you might end up with a walnut instead of a pecan. To be certain you get the correct nut, you must specify it as nuez pecana.
Examples in context
- ¡Sí, me encantan las nueces pecanas!Yes, I love pecans!
- ¿Usaste nueces pecanas?Did you use pecans?
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are baking a dessert together.
- Lucía¿Tienes pacana para el pay?Do you have pecans for the pie?
- AlejandroSí, hay una bolsa en la alacena.Yes, there is a bag in the pantry.
- LucíaPerfecto, voy a picar la pacana ahora.Perfect, I am going to chop the pecans now.
- AlejandroTe ayudo con eso, Lucía.I will help you with that, Lucía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pecan” translations and entries pacana, nuez pecana, pecana, pecán, nuez de la isla, 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.
