quinua
/ˈkinwa/feminine
To say quinoa in Spanish, use quinua. The spellings quínoa and quinoa are also used. If unsure, use quinua.
Meaning: Chenopodium quinoa (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| quinua | /ˈkinwa/ | feminine |
| quínoa | /ˈkinoa/ | feminine, alternative form |
| quinoa | /kiˈnoa/ | feminine, alternative form |
quinua names the Andean plant and its seeds, eaten like a grain. Quinua Real is a specific high quality variety.
Which one should you use?
quinua is the main spelling, while quínoa and quinoa are alternative spellings of the same word.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is feminine, so it takes feminine articles like la or una, as in la quinua.
How do you pronounce it?
The IPA is /ˈkinwa/, two syllables with the stress on the first.
Did you know?
- In the Andes, quinua is often called the 'grain of the gods' because it was considered sacred by the Incas.
- The word quinua traces its roots back to the Quechua language, which was spoken by the Inca Empire in the Andes.
- Because it is a seed and not a true cereal, a botanist in a Spanish-speaking country might actually correct you if you call it a 'cereal' instead of a 'semilla'.
Examples in context
- Le gusta la quinua.He likes quinoa.Here quinua follows la because the noun is feminine.Tatoeba #4471789 by cueyayotl, translation #1749268 by Spamster
- ¿Te gusta la quinoa?Do you like quinoa?This sentence uses the alternative spelling quinoa.Tatoeba #8886269 by Munia, translation #6388633 by Hybrid
- Comieron una ensalada de quinoa.They ate a quinoa salad.Here quinoa follows de to describe a quinoa salad.Tatoeba #2588780 by hayastan, translation #2587396 by Hybrid
- Me gusta cocinar con quinua para agregar variedad a mis comidas.I enjoy cooking with quinoa to add variety to my meals.
- ¿Sabías que la quinua real es originaria de los Andes?Did you know that Quinua Real is native to the Andes?
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are deciding what to cook for dinner.
- Javier¿Quieres cenar quinua hoy?Do you want to have quinoa for dinner today?
- LucíaSí, suena muy saludable.Yes, that sounds very healthy.
- JavierTengo quinua blanca y roja.I have white and red quinoa.
- LucíaUsemos la blanca, por favor.Let's use the white one, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “quinoa” translations and entries quinua, quínoa, quinoa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries quinoa, quinua, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
