ayote
Central America, Guatemala
A pumpkin in Guatemala is an ayote or a calabaza. Ayote is a Central American word for a large squash.
Meaning: squash or pumpkin (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| ayote | Central America, Guatemala |
| calabaza | neutral |
At the market ayote refers to the squash used in cooking and sweets. Calabaza is the neutral word and fits a Halloween pumpkin.
When do people say it?
Dulce de ayote is a sweet made from squash cooked with sugar, and it is common in Central America.
Did you know?
- The word calabaza also appears in the Spanish saying dar calabazas, which means to reject someone.
Examples in context
- Compré un ayote para el dulce.I bought a pumpkin for the sweet.
- La calabaza está madura.The pumpkin is ripe.
- Me gusta la sopa de ayote.I like pumpkin soup.
Example conversation
Rosa and her mother Doña Carmen shop at a market in Quetzaltenango.
- RosaMamá, ¿llevamos un ayote?Mom, shall we take a pumpkin?
- Doña CarmenSí, para hacer dulce.Yes, to make a sweet.
- RosaElijamos uno grande.Let us pick a big one.
