caña de azúcar
/ˌkaɲa de aˈθukaɾ/
The English phrase sugarcane is translated into Spanish as caña de azúcar.
caña de azúcar refers to the tall perennial grass grown for its sweet stalks, which are used to produce sugar.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and Central America, caña de azúcar is the predominant term used for sugarcane. In the Caribbean, especially in Cuba and the Dominican Republic, the word guarapo is commonly used to refer to sugarcane juice.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌkaɲa de aˈθukaɾ/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, caña is used as a slang term for a glass of beer.
- The word azúcar traces its lineage back to the Sanskrit word śárkarā, which originally meant 'gravel' or 'coarse sand'.
- In various Spanish dialects, caña is used idiomatically to describe someone with a lot of energy or a 'kick' of intensity.
Examples in context
- ¿Podrías indicarme dónde puedo encontrar caña de azúcar en el mercado?Can you please show me where I can find sugarcane in the market?
- ¡Este guarapo está delicioso!This guarapo is delicious!
- La caña de azúcar es muy alta.The sugarcane is very tall.
- Venden jugo de caña de azúcar en el mercado.They sell sugarcane juice at the market.
- Ese campo tiene mucha caña de azúcar.That field has a lot of sugarcane.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are walking through a tropical plantation.
- AlejandroMira esa caña de azúcar, Lucía.Look at that sugarcane, Lucía.
- LucíaEs impresionante lo grande que es.It is impressive how big it is.
- AlejandroPodemos comprar jugo de caña de azúcar aquí.We can buy sugarcane juice here.
- Lucía¡Qué buena idea, Alejandro!What a great idea, Alejandro!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry caña de azúcar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries azúcar, caña, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
