How to Pronounce Quinoa
How do you say quinoa?
KEEN-wah
- IPA (US)
- /ˈkiːnwɑː/
- IPA (UK)
- /ˈkiːnwɑː/
keen·wah
2 syllables, stress on the first.
Is it kwin-OH-uh or KEEN-wah?
- ✗ Not standard kwin-OH-uh: Reading 'qu' as in 'queen'. In Spanish and Quechua spelling, 'qu' is a plain K, and 'oa' glides into 'wah'.
- ✓ Also accepted kee-NOH-uh: An older English pronunciation that some dictionaries still list. KEEN-wah is now standard and closest to the original.
Quinoa pronunciation in British vs American English
American English: KEEN-wah, two syllables.
British English: KEEN-wah. The older kee-NOH-uh is still occasionally heard.
What does quinoa mean?
The edible seed of a South American plant (Chenopodium quinoa), cooked like a grain and high in protein.
Where does quinoa come from?
From Spanish quinua, from Quechua kinwa. Quechua is the language of the Andes, where quinoa has been grown for thousands of years. In Spanish spelling 'qu' is a K sound, so the word starts with KEEN. Botanically, quinoa is a seed related to spinach and beetroot, not a true cereal. The United Nations named 2013 the International Year of Quinoa.
Quinoa in a sentence
- Quinoa cooks in about fifteen minutes.
- I'll have the quinoa salad with roasted vegetables.
- Rinse quinoa before cooking to remove its bitter coating.