(From Fruit and vegetable terminology in the Spanish-speaking world: regional variation.

Proceedings of the 38th Annual Conference of the American Translators Association, San Francisco, California, U.S.A., November 5-9, 1997. Muriel M. Jrme-OKeeffe, comp. American Translators Association, 1997. 233-261.)

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE TERMINOLOGY IN THE SPANISH-SPEAKING WORLD: REGIONAL VARIATION Andre Moskowitz

Keywords: Fruit, Vegetables, Lexicography, Sociolinguistics.

Spanish,

Regionalisms,

Terminology,

Dialectology,

Abstract: This paper presents the findings of research that was conducted to determine the different names used for certain fruits and vegetables in the countries of the Spanish-speaking world. 0 INTRODUCTION

The paper is designed to serve as a practical guide to lexical usage by indicating the names used for fruit and vegetable items in Spain and the nineteen Spanish-speaking countries of the Western Hemisphere; it does not include information on usage in Equatorial Guinea. Like the first maps of largely unexplored lands, the paper constitutes merely a first attempt to draw up the lexical boundaries and much research remains to be done to map out the territory with greater precision. The title of each section is either the items common name(s) in United States English or, in cases in which no common U.S. English equivalent exists, several of the Spanish language names. With lesser known items, scientific names are also provided. The items are as follows: FRUITS 1) apricot, 2) banana, 3) curuba / taxo/ tumbo, 4) grapefruit, 5) guaba / guama / pacay 6) limoncillo / mamn / mamoncillo / quenepa, 7) lulo / naranjilla, 8) orange, 9) papaya, 10) passion fruit, 11) peach, 12) pineapple, 13) strawberry, 14) watermelon; 15) acho(c)cha / achogcha / pepino, 16) artichoke, 17) avocado, 18) bean (generic), 19) beet, 20) cabbage, 21) chayote squash, 22) ear of corn, 23) corncob, 24) cornhusk, 25) green bean / string bean, 26) green onion, 27) melloco / olluco / papa lisa / uyuco, 28) pea, 29) sweet pepper / bell pepper, 30) hot pepper / chili pepper, 31) potato, 32) squashes / pumpkins, 33) sweet potato, 34) tomato, 35) yuc(c)a / manioc / cassava.

VEGETABLES

Each section is divided into two subsections: 1) 2) 0.1 Data by Country Issues and Observations Data by Country

The data by country subsections consist of tables in which the terms used in the Spanishspeaking countries are presented. The data was collected through observation by the author in the countries themselves and through direct questioning of informants. The direct questioning was done by showing informants the actual items or a picture of them and asking them to give the name most commonly used in their region, and also by asking native speakers of Spanish who are highly proficient in English to give the equivalents of English language terms that are used in their native regions. The countries are listed in a geographical rather than alphabetical order to highlight what may be called lexico-geographic blocs, or groups of countries that are in geographic proximity and also share the same lexical usage for a given item. Following each Spanish term, a numerical proportion is given indicating the number of informants out of the total who used a particular term or gave it as their response to a question. Thus, in the first table, SPAIN albaricoque (8/8) is to be interpreted as, Of the eight Spaniards who were observed referring to an apricot or were asked to give the term they used for this fruit, all eight gave the term albaricoque. In order to consolidate the information, the data for groups of countries is often presented in a single line with the use of categories such as Hispanic Central America (Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala), Hispanic Antilles (Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico) and Rest of Spanish America (all Spanish-speaking Latin American countries that are not listed in the chart with an individual country specification). When informants used or offered several similar variants, words or letters appear in parentheses or separated by slashes. Thus, where meln (de agua) appears, informants indicated both meln and meln de agua. When [not common] appears next to a country, it means the informants from that country stated that the item was not common, and a question mark (?) indicates that the author was unable to obtain data for that country but thinks the item may exist there. 0.2 Issues and Observations

In these subsections terminological, spelling and gender variation between and within particular countries is addressed. Here, frequent references are made to specific provinces, departments, states, cities and other geographical areas of countries such as Highlands (Sierra) and Coast region (Costa). In many cases the usages indicated by the informants of this study are at odds with those described in the 1992 edition of the Diccionario de la Lengua Espaola (the Spanish Royal Academy Dictionary), henceforth referred to as the Real Academia. Although not without its critics, this dictionary remains the most prestigious and widely consulted authority on the Spanish language. 2

Some etymological questions are also posed. In general, the early history of words, such as their development from Latin to Spanish, has been extensively researched but their post-1492, dialectological history has received less attention from scholars. The issue of why certain terms have become predominant in some regions while other terms prevail in other regions is addressed.

1 1.1

APRICOT Data by Country albaricoque (8/8). damasco (5/5). damasco (15/15). damasco (6/6). damasco (4/4). damasco (5/5). albaricoque or [not common] (65/65; 5/5 in each country). chabacano (15/15).

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA REST OF SPANISH AMERICA MEXICO

1.2

Issues and Observations

General: According to the Real Academia, albrchigo refers to albaricoque en algunas partes and albericoque is listed as being used in Aragon, N. Burgos and Mexico. In which parts of the Spanish-speaking world are these terms actually used in this sense? Spanish America, except Southern Cone, Bolivia & Mexico: The fruit is not generally cultivated in this region. To the extent the fruit exists here, it is called albaricoque.

2 2.1

BANANA Data by Country pltano (14/14). pltano (9/9). banana (15/15). banana (7/7). banana (8/8). pltano (9/10), guineo (6/10), banana (4/10). pltano (12/14), guineo (3/14). guineo (8/12), pltano (7/12). banano (15/22), pltano (7/22), guineo (4/22). cambur (9/9), guineo (2/9). pltano/platanito (9/11), guineo (3/11). guineo (9/9). guineo (12/12). guineo (11/11). banano (9/9). 3

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO PANAMA COSTA RICA

NICARAGUA HONDURAS EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA MEXICO

banano (9/9). mnimo (10/11), banano (8/11), guineo (8/11). guineo (9/9). guineo (8/9), banano (8/9). pltano (15/15).

2.2

Issues and Observations

General: The terms listed above are those used in the respective countries in the sense of a generic banana and/or the standard sized banana used for export. Tropical countries have a host of different names for specific types of bananas (as well as many names for different types of plantains). Spain: Is guineo used in this sense in the Canary Islands? Paraguay: Pakov is the Guarani term. Bolivia: Pltano is the predominant term in the Altiplano and guineo is used in el Beni. Guineo and banana were given by people from the eastern lowlands (e.g. Santa Cruz). Peru: Pltano is used in most of the country. Guineo was given by people from Piura and Tumbes (northern cities). Ecuador: Pltano is used in the northern and central Highlands (e.g. Quito). Guineo is used in the Coast region (e.g. Guayaquil) and in the southern Highlands (e.g. Cuenca, Loja). Colombia: Banano is the most frequently used term in most of the country. Pltano was given by people from Bogota and guineo by people from the Atlantic Coast region (e.g. Barranquilla, Cartagena, Santa Marta). Venezuela: Cambur is the national term. Guineo was given by people from Zulia. Cuba: Pltano or Platanito are used in the western part of the country. Guineo was given by people from eastern regions, including Santiago. Guatemala: Guineo is used more in the countryside and among the lower socio-economic classes. Banano is used more in the cities and by the middle and upper classes.

3 3.1

CURUBA / TAXO / TUMBO (Passiflora mollisima and other related species) Data by Country tumbo (6/6). tumbo (5/5). taxo (10/10), gulln (2/10). curuba (6/6). ?

BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA

3.2

Issues and Observations

General: Is this fruit common in other countries? Ecuador: Taxo is the national term. Gulln (sometimes spelled gulin) was given by people from Cuenca.

4 4.1

GRAPEFRUIT Data by Country pomelo (15/15). pomelo (9/9). pomelo (15/15). pomelo (8/8). pomelo (8/9), greif(r)u(t) (7/9), toronja (4/9). toronja (9/13), pomelo (6/13), greif(r)u(t) (4/13), grei (2/13). toronja (15/15). toronja (11/11). toronja (15/15), naranja grey (4/15). greif(r)u(t) (13/16), toronja (10/16). toronja (13/14), greif(r)u(t) (3/14). toronja (8/8). toronja (11/11). toronja (9/10), greif(r)u(t) (3/10). toronja (10/11), greif(r)u(t) (9/11). greif(r)u(t) (10/10), toronja (4/10). toronja (8/8). toronja (8/8), greif(r)u(t) (4/8), naranja grey (2/8). toronja (8/8). toronja (15/15).

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO PANAMA COSTA RICA NICARAGUA HONDURAS EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA MEXICO

4.2

Issues and Observations

General: Greif(r)u(t) is often pronounced greifu or greif and tends to be feminine. Spain: Toronja is listed in the Real Academia as cidra de forma globosa como la naranja with no information on its genus or species or on its regional usage, and pomelo is defined as En algunas partes, toronja. The Larousse bilingual dictionary defines toronja as seville orange, bitter orange and also grapefruit. To what extent is toronja actually used in Spain in the sense of grapefruit? If toronja and pomelo are both commonly used in this sense, what determines which term a Spaniard uses? Age, socio-economic class, region? Paraguay: Pomelo, in the capital, and greif(r)u(t), in the countryside, refer to a variety with a yellow skin. Toronja refers to a larger, pink-skinned variety. Bolivia: Pomelo and toronja appear to be the most frequently used terms in the Altiplano. Greif(r)u(t) and la grei were given by people from el Beni and the eastern lowlands. Colombia & El Salvador: Naranja grey is also written naranja grei. Venezuela, Cuba, Costa Rica & Nicaragua: A number of people stated that toronja refers to slightly bitter, thick-skinned varieties that are used to make dulce, and greif(r)u(t)__sometimes pronounced graif(r)u(t) in Venezuela__refers to varieties that are eaten raw and used to make juice. Others indicated they use the two terms interchangeably or only one for all varieties.

GUABA / GUAMA / PACAY (Inga edulis, Inga feuillei, Inga laurina and other related species) Data by Country pacay (5/5). pacay (6/6), guaba (1/6). guaba (10/10). guama (7/7), guaba (1/7). guama (5/5). ? ? ? guaba (7/7). guaba (8/8). guaba (5/5). paterna (6/6). paterna (8/8), guama (4/8). paterna (6/7), cushn (4/7). ?

5.1

BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO PANAMA COSTA RICA NICARAGUA HONDURAS EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA MEXICO

5.2

Issues and Observations

Peru & Bolivia: The pacay of Bolivia and central and southern Peru is considerably smaller than the varieties of guaba / guama / paterna found in tropical Spanish America. The Peruvian who gave guaba was from Piura and indicated that the guaba is larger than the pacay. The plural of pacay is pacais or pacayes. Colombia: Guama is used in most of the country. Guaba was given by a person from Buenaventura (on the Pacific coast). Costa Rica: Guajiniquil or cuajiniquil refers to a similar fruit that is brownish on the outside and smaller in size. El Salvador: Pepeto and cujn/cushn refer to smaller varieties. Guatemala: Paterna refers to a larger, green variety and cushn refers to a smaller, brown variety.

6 6.1

LIMONCILLO / MAMN / MAMONCILLO / QUENEPA (Melicoccus bijugatus) Data by Country mamoncillo (5/6), mamn (2/6). mamn (6/6), mamoncillo (2/6). mamoncillo (6/6). limoncillo (8/8), quenepa (5/8). quenepa (9/9). mamn (25/25; 5/5 in each country). ? ? 6

COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO REST OF HISPANIC CENTRAL AMERICA GUATEMALA MEXICO

6.2

Issues and Observations

Dominican Republic: Limoncillo is the term used in most of the country. Quenepa appears to be more common in the South (e.g. San Juan, Barahona, San Cristobal).

LULO / NARANJILLA (Solanum quitoense, Solanum candidum and other related species) Data by Country ? naranjilla (10/10). lulo (10/10). ?

7.1

PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA

7.2

Issues and Observations

General: Does this fruit grow outside of northwest South America? The Ecuadoran term derives from naranja, but what is the etymology of lulo? Why did the indigenous name(s) used prior to 1492 in the territory that is now Ecuador get displaced by naranjilla?

8 8.1

ORANGE Data by Country naranja (8/8). china (9/9). china (12/12). naranja (85/85; 5/5 in each country).

SPAIN DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO REST OF SPANISH AMERICA

8.2

Issues and Observations

Dominican Republic & Puerto Rico: China refers to sweet oranges. There is a sour and bitter variety called naranja agria. Cuba: Sweet oranges are sometimes called naranja dulce or naranja (de) china and the sour and bitter variety is naranja agria.

9 9.1

PAPAYA Data by Country papaya (6/6). papaya (6/6). mamn (5/8), papaya (3/8). 7

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA

URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO HISPANIC CENTRAL AMERICA & MEXICO

[not common] (6/6). mamn (7/7). papaya (6/6). papaya (11/11). papaya (12/12). papaya (14/17), lechosa/lechoza (4/17). lechosa/lechoza (10/10). fruta bomba (12/15), papaya (11/15). lechosa/lechoza (11/11). papaya (10/12), lechosa/lechoza (10/12). papaya (35/35; 5/5 in each country).

9.2

Issues and Observations

General: The fruit is imported to non-tropical countries such as Spain, Chile and Uruguay. Argentina: Mamn grows in the northeastern part of the country (especially Misiones). How familiar are Argentines from other regions with the term papaya and is this familiarity the result of foreign influence and/or imported varieties? To what extent do the two terms compete? Colombia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic & Puerto Rico: Lechosa or lechoza? The term derives from leche + the suffix -osa and therefore the s-form is in some sense correct but both spellings are widely used and the persistence of the z-form may be due in part to the existence of the word choza. Nine out of eleven from the Dominican Republic spelled the word with a z. Colombia: Papaya is used in most of the country. Lechosa was given by people from Santander, Norte de Santander, el Cesar and Arauca (eastern departments). Cuba: Fruta bomba is the preferred term in Havana where papaya (a vulgar word for vagina) is taboo. Papaya appears to be the most frequently used term in the sense of the fruit in the eastern part of the country, including Santiago. People from a number of regions stated that both terms were commonly used in the sense of the fruit. Estar en su papayal: In which countries is this expression commonly used? All those in which papaya is used? And does the phrase have meanings other than, to be comfortable, to be in ones element?

10 10.1

PASSION FRUIT Data by Country ? maracuy (5/5). maracuy (11/11). maracuy (12/12). maracuy (12/12). parchita (6/6). ? chinola (7/7). 8

PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP.

PUERTO RICO PANAMA COSTA RICA NICARAGUA HONDURAS EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA MEXICO

parcha (9/9). maracuy (8/8). maracuy (6/6). calala (4/6), maracuy (3/6). maracuy (9/9). granadilla de fresco (4/5), maracuy (1/5). ? ?

10.2

Issues and Observations

General: Maracuy is generally masculine. Spain: The fresh fruit is not yet commonly available but one person stated that canned or bottled maracuy juice is becoming popular. Peru & Bolivia: The fruit grows mainly in the Amazon regions. Venezuela: Parcha refers to a different fruit. Cuba: Julia Mortons Fruits of Warm Climates states that ceibey is used in this sense. Is this true? Panama: Several people indicated maracuy is feminine. El Salvador: Granadilla de fresco seems to refer to a wild variety that is somewhat different from the commercially grown varieties of maracuy.

11 11.1

PEACH Data by Country melocotn (13/13). durazno (10/10). durazno (15/15). durazno (7/7). durazno (7/7). durazno (6/6). durazno (11/14), melocotn (9/14). durazno (10/10). durazno (15/15), melocotn (7/15). durazno (9/10), melocotn (9/10). melocotn (9/9). melocotn (7/7). melocotn (9/9). melocotn (7/8), durazno (5/8). durazno (6/6), melocotn (3/6). melocotn (3/3). durazno (5/6), melocotn (4/6). durazno (7/9), melocotn (6/9). durazno (8/10), melocotn (8/10). durazno (15/15). 9

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO PANAMA COSTA RICA NICARAGUA HONDURAS EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA MEXICO

11.2

Issues and Observations

General: Melocotn and durazno are the generic names in Spain and most of Spanish America, respectively. Abridero, abridor, albrchigo, durazno, paraguaya/paraguayo, prsico and prisco are listed as names for specific varieties in the Real Academia. Where are these terms used and what varieties do they refer to? Spanish America: In many countries durazno is considered to be the native peach and melocotn refers to canned and/or imported varieties. In areas such as the Hispanic Antilles and Nicaragua that have only tropical climates the tree is hard to grow and the fruit exists primarily as a canned import. Peru: Durazno refers to a larger variety; melocotn to a smaller variety. Huesillo refers to a dried peach. El Salvador & Guatemala: Melocotn refers to a larger, native variety of peach and durazno to a smaller one. Durazno al jugo; melocotn en almbar: These expressions appear to be set phrases in which the other term is not substituted. Are there native speakers of Spanish who spontaneously say melocotn al jugo or durazno en almbar?

12 12.1

PINEAPPLE Data by Country pia (12/12). anan (15/15). anan (7/7). pia (11/11). pia (80/80; 5/5 in each country).

SPAIN ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY REST OF SPANISH AMERICA

12.2

Issues and Observations

Spain: The Real Academia defines anan and anans in the sense of the fruit in question and states that pia is a synonym. To what extent is anan(s) actually used in Spain? If the two terms in fact compete, what determines which term a Spaniard uses? Age, socioeconomic class, region? Argentina & Uruguay: Why is anan the predominant term in Argentina and Uruguay when pia appears to be the term used in the rest of the Spanish-speaking world? Both the Real Academia and the Diccionario Crtico Etimolgico Castellano e Hispnico by Corominas state that anan and anans derive from Guarani nan by way of Portuguese anans. As Corominas points out, direct Guarani influence is somewhat hard to sustain given that the Guarani term is not used in Paraguay, the country that would logically have the most influence from this indigenous language. The fact that anan is generally written without the s in Argentina and Uruguay also lends some credence to the notion that its use in the River Plate region may derive orally from the French anans.

10

13 13.1

STRAWBERRY Data by Country fresa (14/14). frutilla (11/11). frutilla (15/15). frutilla (8/8). frutilla (9/9). frutilla (11/11). fresa (16/16), frutilla (4/16). frutilla (14/14). fresa (15/15). fresa (55/55; 5/5 in each country).

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA REST OF SPANISH AMERICA

13.2

Issues and Observations

General: The fruit is exported to countries that do not have cool climates. Fresa is the international term and is familiar to many people in the frutilla countries. Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia & Ecuador: Why did frutilla become the predominant term in these countries? Peru: Fresa is the predominant term in most of the country. Frutilla seems to be used only in parts of the Highlands. Why did frutilla not become the most commonly used term in Peru? Is this due to the fact that Lima, as the seat of the Spanish Viceroyalty, received a steady influx of the terminology that was current in Spain? What other factors may have contributed?

14 14.1

WATERMELON Data by Country sanda (14/14). sanda (35/35; 5/5 in each country). patilla (13/18), sanda (8/18). patilla (10/10). meln (de agua) (15/15). pa(s)tilla (10/10). meln (de agua) (10/10). sanda (35/35; 5/5 in each country).

SPAIN REST OF HISPANIC SOUTH AMERICA COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO HISPANIC CENTRAL AMERICA & MEXICO

14.2

Issues and Observations

Colombia: Patilla is used in the eastern part of the country and sanda in the west, especially in the southwestern departments of Valle del Cauca, Cauca and Nario. 11

Dominican Republic: A number of people queried pronounced the word as if it were written pastilla, often with an aspirated s. This may be part of a general tendency to insert a hypercorrect s known as hablar fisno [< fino] (Lipski: 239).

15 15.1

ACHO(C)CHA / PEPINO (Cyclanthera pedata) Data by Country ? ? achoccha/achogcha (5/9), achocha (4/9). pepino (5/5). ?

BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA

15.2

Issues and Observations

General: Does this vegetable grow in other countries? The Ecuadoran terms derive from Quechua/ Quichua whereas the Colombian term, pepino, is not of indigenous origin. It appears that Spanish settlers in Colombia, upon encountering a phenomenon that was new to them, applied a term for a vegetable that back in Spain bore some resemblance. Why, however, did words of indigenous origin become predominant in Ecuador and a non-indigenous word in Colombia? One possible explanation is that prior to 1492 there may have been several, unrelated indigenous terms used in the territory that is presentday Colombia. If so, pepino would have faced a divided opposition from (and may have displaced) the indigenous words used there. It is possible that in Ecuador the Quechua/Quichua variants did not face strong competition from terms of other indigenous languages and attempts made by Spanish settlers to impose imported terms encountered a united opposition and were unsuccessful. Ecuador: Achoccha and achogcha are used in the Highlands; achocha in the Coast region.

16 16.1

ARTICHOKE Data by Country alcachofa (8/8), alcaucil (1/8). alcaucil (15/15). alcaucil (7/7). alcachofa (85/85; 5/5 in each country).

SPAIN ARGENTINA URUGUAY REST OF SPANISH AMERICA

16.2

Issues and Observations

Spain: Alcaucil was given by a person from Alicante. Alcaucil and alcauc are listed in the Real Academia as synonyms of alcachofa and as a wild variety of the plant. In what regions of the country are alcaucil and alcauc commonly used in the general sense of artichoke? Argentina & Uruguay: Can the use of alcaucil in these countries be linked to a high level of immigration from regions of Spain where this term is, or at one time was predominant? 12

17 17.1

AVOCADO Data by Country aguacate (12/12). palta (9/9). palta (15/15). palta (6/6). aguacate (11/11). palta (9/10), aguacate (4/10). palta (12/12). aguacate (15/15). aguacate (60/60; 5/5 in each country).

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR REST OF SPANISH AMERICA

17.2

Issues and Observations

Bolivia: Palta is used in the Altiplano. Aguacate was given by people from the eastern lowlands. South America: Palta, according to the Real Academia, derives from Quechua and is, understandably, the predominant term in Peru and much of highland Bolivia. Why, however, did this term become predominant in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile but not in Paraguay and Ecuador?

18 18.1

BEAN (GENERIC) Data by Country juda (12/15), alubia (9/15) habichuela (5/15). poroto (10/10). poroto (15/15). poroto (6/6). poroto (7/7). poroto (10/11), frejol (5/11), frijol (2/11). frejol (17/20), frijol (8/20), poroto (2/20). frjol (9/12), frejol (6/12), poroto (5/12). frjol (16/20), frisol (7/20), frijol (5/20). caraota (11/11). frijol (14/14). habichuela (8/10), frijol (3/10). habichuela (10/10). frijol (35/35; 5/5 in each country).

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO HISPANIC CENTRAL AMERICA & MEXICO

13

18.2

Issues and Observations

General: The above terms refer to the varieties of generic beans (i.e. not lima beans or lentils, etc.) that are cultivated in the different regions. There are many other terms for specific types of beans. Spain: Some claim that alubia, habichuela and juda are synonyms. Others indicate the three terms refer to three different types of beans and still others use only one term to refer to beans in general. Alubia seems to be particularly prevalent in the northern part of the country. The Real Academia defines frjol (with no regional specification), frijn (Andalusia and Extremadura) and frsol (with no regional specification) as synonyms of judia. Which terms are used in which regions and what type of beans do they refer to? Paraguay: Cumand is the Guarani term. Bolivia: Chus was given by several people in the sense of dried, colored beans that children play with. Peru: Poroto was given by people from Tacna. Ecuador: Frjol is the most commonly used term in the northern and central Highlands. Frejol is the most often used in the Coast region. Poroto is the most common in the southern Highlands. Colombia: Frjol is used in most of the interior but frisol is used in Antioquia and Caldas. Frijol was given by people from the Atlantic Coast region. Cuba: Several people indicated that juda refers to a white bean. Dominican Republic: Habichuela is used in most of the country; frijol was given by people from el Cibao. Panama: Poroto refers to a type of kidney bean. Guatemala: Piloy refers to a large, reddish brown bean.

19 19.1

BEET Data by Country remolacha (14/14), betarraga (1/14). betarraga (9/12), beterraga (7/12). remolacha (15/15). remolacha (6/6). remolacha (7/7). beterraga (9/9). beterraga (17/20), betarraga (6/20). remolacha (11/20), veteraba (9/20). remolacha (15/15). remolacha (8/8). remolacha (45/45; 5/5 in each country). betabel (19/20), remolacha (5/20).

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA HISPANIC ANTILLES & CENTRAL AMERICA MEXICO

14

19.2

Issues and Observations

General: Betarrata is listed in the Real Academia but where is this term actually used? Do all of the terms beginning with beta or veta derive from the French betterave? What is the etymology of betabel? Spain: Betarraga was given by a person from Galicia. Where is this term used? Ecuador: Remolacha is used in the Highlands and veteraba in the southern Coast region. In the northern Coast region (e.g. Esmeraldas) both of these terms appear to be common. Veteraba was the spelling given by the costeos who were interviewed and is the way it is spelled in the produce section of Guayaquil supermarkets. Was this term ever spelled beterava or beteraba in Ecuador, spellings which would be closer to the words etymological root? Mexico: Betabel is the most frequently used term but some claim that betabel and remolacha refer to two different varieties of beet. Do Mexican specialists make this distinction?

20 20.1

CABBAGE Data by Country col (12/16), repollo (12/16). repollo (11/11). repollo (15/15). repollo (7/7). repollo (7/7). repollo (9/9). col (17/20), repollo (9/20). col (9/10), repollo (2/10). repollo (22/22), col (7/22). repollo (10/10). col (10/12), repollo (4/12). repollo (9/9). repollo (11/13), col (6/13). repollo (30/30; 5/5 in each country). repollo (19/25), col (13/25).

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO HISPANIC CENTRAL AMERICA MEXICO

20.2

Issues and Observations

General: According to the Real Academia, berza is a synonym of col, repollo is more compact than col and has leaves that are more tightly wrapped, and bretn is a certain variety of col. For which regions of the Spanish-speaking world do these descriptions conform to actual usage? Spain: Several people indicated that berza and lombarda refer to red or purple cabbage. What are the meanings of berza, bretn, col, lombarda and repollo in the different regions? Spanish America: Most people use either col or repollo (not both) to refer to this vegetable and the word used depends on region as indicated in the above chart and in the explanations given below. However, some claim that col refers to a larger variety and repollo to a smaller one. To the extent that a speakers choice of term depends on region (and not on 15

the type of cabbage being referred to), what theories can explain the regional distribution of the two terms? Peru: Col is the most frequently used term in Lima. Repollo seems to be common in parts of the Highlands and in the South (e.g. Arequipa, Tacna). Ecuador: Col is used in most of the country. Repollo was given by people from Esmeraldas and el Carchi (provinces bordering Colombia). Colombia: Some claim col and repollo refer to two different varieties of cabbage but most use repollo exclusively. Tallo is listed in the Real Academia as bretn o col. In what regions of Colombia do people actually use this term in this sense? Mexico: Col is predominant in some regions (it appears to be the most commonly used term in the Distrito Federal) and repollo in other areas (particularly in the North). People from a number of regions indicated the two terms are synonymous.

21 21.1

CHAYOTE SQUASH (Sechium edule) Data by Country yota (3/3). chayota (8/8). chayote (8/8). tayota (10/10). chayote (8/8). chayote (7/7). chayote (5/5). chayote (7/9), chaya (4/9). pataste (6/6). gisquil (8/10), gisayote (4/10). gisquil (7/7). chayote (16/17), chinchayote (4/17).

COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO PANAMA COSTA RICA NICARAGUA HONDURAS EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA MEXICO

21.2

Issues and Observations

General: Is this plant limited to Central America and the Caribbean basin? Colombia: Yota was given by people from Bucaramanga but the vegetable is apparently not common in many areas of the country. Nicaragua: Chayote is the predominant term in most of the country. Chaya was given by people from Matagalpa, Jinotega and Estel (northern cities). El Salvador & Guatemala: Gisquil and gisayote are also written huisquil and huisayote, respectively. Hispanic Central America: The most common varieties tend to have a prickly surface. Mexico: Chayote is the predominant term. Few people interviewed were familiar with chinchayote but of those that were, some claimed it was a larger variety of the vegetable whereas others indicated it was the plants edible root; the latter conforms to the Real Academias description.

16

22 22.1

EAR OF CORN Data by Country mazorca (12/14), panocha (2/14), panoja (1/14), panoya (1/14). choclo (35/35; 5/5 in each country). mazorca (16/19), choclo (6/19), chcolo (3/19). jojoto (9/9). mazorca (15/15; 5/5 in each country). mazorca (7/7). elote/mazorca (30/30; 5/5 in each country).

SPAIN REST OF HISPANIC SOUTH AMERICA COLOMBIA VENEZUELA HISPANIC ANTILLES PANAMA REST OF HISPANIC CENTRAL AMERICA & MEXICO

22.2

Issues and Observations

Spain: Mazorca (de maz) is the term used in most Spanish-speaking regions of the country. The other terms were given by people from specific areas: panocha (Alicante, Castille), panoja (Valencia) and panoya (Asturias). The Real Academia lists pinocha as being used in Aragon and pia with no regional specification, but who, if anyone, actually uses pia in this sense? Hispanic South America: In theory, there are two terms for ear of corn: mazorca for dry corn and choclo for young or green corn. Mazorca, however, is rarely used outside of Colombia. Is this because dry ears of corn are not generally consumed in this region or is it due to other factors? Colombia: Mazorca is used in most of the country. Choclo and chcolo are used in the southwestern departments of Valle del Cauca, Cauca and Nario. Hispanic Central America & Mexico: Mazorca is used for a dry ear of corn and elote for a young or green ear. Jilote was given by a Salvadoran in the sense of un elote muy tierno. The Real Academia lists jilote as mazorca de maz cuando sus granos no han cuajado an and lists chocoyo as a synonym of mazorca de maz in Honduras. Where are jilote and chocoyo actually used and in what senses?

23 23.1

CORNCOB Data by Country carozo (3/3). coronta (6/6). marlo (12/12). marlo (5/5). avati yge (3/3). marlo (9/9). coronta (10/13), tusa (3/13). tusa (5/5). tusa (11/11). tusa (5/5). 17

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA

HISPANIC ANTILLES PANAMA REST OF HISPANIC CENTRAL AMERICA & MEXICO

tusa (15/15; 5/5 in each country). tusa (7/7). olote (30/30; 5/5 in each country).

23.2

Issues and Observations

General: Many Spanish speakers are not familiar with any name for this item, especially in countries where corn is not an important staple. The Real Academia lists garojo (Cantabria), raspa (with no regional specification), tuco (Asturias) and zuro (with no regional specification). In which regions (of Spain and beyond) are these terms actually used? Paraguay: Avati yge is the Guarani term. Peru: Coronta appears to be the most frequently used term in most of the country. Tusa was given by people from Tumbes, Piura and Trujillo. Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Hispanic Antilles & Panama: Many educated people are uncertain as to whether the word is spelled tusa or tuza. Tusa is the spelling accepted by the Real Academia since it derives from tuso, an archaic past participle of tundir.

24 24.1

CORNHUSK Data by Country ? ? chala (12/12). chala (4/4). chala (3/3). chala (4/4). panca (7/7). ? amero (4/4). ? ? ? ? ? tusa (25/25; 5/5 in each country). ?

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO PANAMA REST OF HISPANIC CENTRAL AMERICA MEXICO

18

24.2

Issues and Observations

General: Many Spanish speakers are not familiar with any name for this item other than hoja de maz, hoja de choclo, hoja de elote, etc. (see section 22), and such terms were frequently given by people from practically every country. The people interviewed from the countries listed with a question mark gave only these responses or said there was no specific name used in their country. Hispanic Central America: Many educated people are uncertain as to whether the word is spelled tusa or tuza (see section 23).

25 25.1

GREEN BEAN / STRING BEAN Data by Country juda verde (17/19), alubia verde (2/19), bajoca (1/19). poroto verde (10/10). chaucha (15/15). chaucha (6/6). chaucha (6/6). vainita (8/8). vainita (11/11). vainita (11/11). habichuela (15/15). vainita (10/10). habichuela (15/15). vainita (10/10). habichuel(it)a tierna (10/12), habichuela verde (7/12). habichuela (8/8). vainica (9/9). frijol(ito) verde (8/10), vainita (3/10). frijol(ito) verde (8/8), vaina (3/8), habichuela verde (2/8). ejote (10/10). ejote (9/9). ejote (15/15).

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO PANAMA COSTA RICA NICARAGUA HONDURAS EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA MEXICO

25.2

Issues and Observations

Spain: Juda verde is the predominant term in most of the Spanish-speaking regions of the country but alubia verde was given by Spanish speakers from Galicia and Pamplona. Bajoca was given by a person from Valencia and, according to the Real Academia, is also used in Murcia. Where are alubia verde and bajoca actually used in this sense?

19

26 26.1

GREEN ONION Data by Country cebolleta (6/9), cebolln (4/9). cebolln (7/7). cebolla de verdeo (15/15), cebolln (2/15). cebolla de verdeo (6/6), cebolln (3/6). cebolla de hoja (5/5). cebolla verde (3/4), cebolla en hoja (2/4). cebolla china (13/13). cebolla blanca (10/10). cebolla larga (10/13), cebolla junca (3/13), cebolln (2/13). cebolln (5/5). cebollino (7/7). cebolln (3/3). cebolln (3/3). cebollina (3/3). cebolln (3/3). ? cebollina (5/5). cebolln (3/3). cebolln (5/5). cebolla (de) cambray (10/15), cebolla de rabo (5/15).

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO PANAMA COSTA RICA NICARAGUA HONDURAS EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA MEXICO

26.2

Issues and Observations

General: The terms in the above chart refer to different types of green onions ranging in size from thin ones to those that are almost as thick as leeks. In some countries the part of the onion that is used is the lower, white part of the stem, not the green shoots (which are often thrown away) whereas in other countries people eat only the upper, green part (and throw away the white part). The cebolla + modifier terms are often used with an -ita diminutive (e.g. cebollita china). Argentina & Uruguay: Cebolla de verdeo refers to a thicker green onion whereas cebolln refers to a thinner one. Colombia: Cebolla larga is used in many regions of the country whereas all those who gave cebolla junca were from Bogota.

27 27.1

MELLOCO / OLLUCO / PAPA LISA / UYUCO (Ullucus tuberosus) Data by Country ? ? papa lisa (5/5). olluco (4/4). melloco (10/10). 20

CHILE ARGENTINA BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR

COLOMBIA VENEZUELA

uyuco/ulluco (5/5). ?

27.2

Issues and Observations

General: Does this tuber grow in other countries? Olluco, melloco and uyuco/ulluco appear to be of indigenous origin. Do they derive from Quechua/Quichua? Papa lisa is a term that was probably coined by Spanish settlers in their efforts to describe a phenomenon that was new to them. Why did this invented term become predominant in the Spanish of Bolivia when words of purely indigenous origin are used in the Spanish of the other three countries? One possible explanation lies in the fact that highland Bolivia has two unrelated indigenous languages, Aymara and Quechua, with a more or less equal number of speakers. An invented term (papa lisa) would have faced a divided opposition from indigenous terms and may have more easily gained a foothold and eventually squeezed out the purely indigenous terms. In highland Peru, Ecuador and southwestern Colombia, in contrast, the different dialects of Quechua or Quichua did not face any strong competition and therefore any attempts made by Spanish settlers to oust the respective indigenous term and impose a coined one would have encountered a united opposition and would have been less likely to succeed. Colombia: Uyuco or ulluco is cultivated mainly in the southwestern departments of Valle del Cauca, Cauca and Nario.

28 28.1

PEA Data by Country guisante (14/14). arveja (9/9). arveja (15/15). arveja (6/6). arveja (7/8), alverja (4/8). alverja (8/8), arveja (5/8). alverja (15/17), arveja (8/17). alverja (11/12), arveja (6/12). alverja (17/17), arveja (9/17). petit pois (6/8), arveja (5/8). petit pois (13/15), chcharo (13/15). petit pois (7/7). petit pois (9/9). petit pois (8/10), guisante (4/10), alverja (3/10). alverja (6/7), petit pois (6/7). petit pois (7/7). chcharo (5/7), petit pois (5/7). alverja (6/7), petit pois (4/7). alverja (9/11), arveja (4/11). chcharo (15/15). 21

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO PANAMA COSTA RICA NICARAGUA HONDURAS EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA MEXICO

28.2

Issues and Observations

Hispanic Central America & Caribbean basin: In a number of countries in this region petit pois is used in the sense of canned peas and is pronounced [PI-ti PUA(S)] or [PI-ti PO-as]. The other terms__arveja, alverja and chcharo__generally refer to fresh or dried peas. Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador & Guatemala: In all of these countries there is some degree of competition between arveja and alverja. In general, arveja is considered the correct term and alverja the incorrect, popular variant. However, alverjas level of acceptance varies. In Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, for example, alverja is practically universal and arveja is primarily used by the most cultured and/or linguistically conscious citizens (some consider its use somewhat snobbish), whereas in other countries (Paraguay, Bolivia, Guatemala?), the use of alverja may really carry a social stigma. Pigeon peas: Gandul and its variants (gandur, guandul, guandur and guand) are used to refer to a flatter type of pea in a number of countries in the Caribbean basin, especially the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Panama.

29 29.1

SWEET PEPPER / BELL PEPPER Data by Country pimiento (13/13). pimentn (10/11), pimiento (4/11). morrn (15/23), pimiento (13/23), aj (8/23). morrn (7/7). locote (8/8). pimentn (8/11), pimiento (6/11). pimiento (15/18), pimentn (6/18). pimiento (10/10). pimentn (14/17), aj dulce (3/17). pimentn (10/10). pimiento (11/15), aj (grande) (8/15). aj (grande) (8/8). pimiento (verde) (11/12), aj dulce (7/12). pimentn (6/9), aj dulce (5/9), pimiento (4/9). chile (dulce) (9/9). chiltoma (8/8). chile dulce (9/11), chile verde (8/11). chile verde (12/12). pimiento (8/11), chile pimiento (7/11), chile dulce (4/11). pimiento (12/22), chile (8/22), morrn (6/22).

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO PANAMA COSTA RICA NICARAGUA HONDURAS EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA MEXICO

22

29.2

Issues and Observations

General: The above terms refer to generic sweet peppers and to the varieties most common in each country. There are many other names for specific varieties. Pimiento morrn is used in a number of countries to refer to red bell peppers. Some countries, notably Argentina, Uruguay and Mexico, tend to shorten this to morrn. Argentina: For some morrn refers specifically to red bell peppers that have been cut, processed and canned or bottled. Others use morrn to refer in general to red bell peppers. And others use it to refer to any bell pepper, red, green or otherwise. Variants such as aj morrn and pimiento morrn are also used. Colombia: Pimentn is used in most of the country. Aj dulce was given by people from the Atlantic Coast region. Cuba & Puerto Rico: Pimiento and pimiento verde refer to larger, fatter types of sweet peppers whereas aj, aj dulce and aj grande refer to smaller, thinner varieties that are shaped like chili peppers but are not hot. Hispanic Central America & Mexico: Bell peppers and hot peppers are not necessarily viewed as items belonging to two separate categories, especially in Mexico where there is a whole range of chiles from sweet to very hot, each with a separate name often consisting of the word chile + a modifier (e.g. chile jalapeo, chile poblano). The latter, for example, is not clearly a sweet pepper or a hot pepper but shares features of both: it looks somewhat like a smallish, bell pepper and tastes somewhere between hot and sweet.

30 30.1

HOT PEPPER / CHILI PEPPER Data by Country guindilla (10/13), pimiento picante (3/13). aj (45/45; 5/5 in each country). aj picante (12/12). aj picante (7/7). aj (picante) (9/9). aj (picante) (10/10). chile (picante) (8/8). chile (25/25; 5/5 in each country).

SPAIN HISPANIC SOUTH AMERICA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO PANAMA COSTA RICA REST OF HISPANIC CENTRAL AMERICA & MEXICO

30.2

Issues and Observations

General: Most of the above terms are used in the sense of generic hot peppers. Many countries have various types, each with a specific name typically consisting of aj or chile + a modifier. Spain: Guindilla refers to a specific type of hot pepper. Argentina: Aj can refer to hot peppers or sweet peppers. Aj picante refers to hot peppers in general and aj puta pari refers to a specific type of hot pepper that is most common in Argentina which some soften to aj PP. One person from Uruguay also gave aj puta pari. 23

Paraguay: Ku is the Guarani term and is used more often by Spanish speakers than aj. Bolivia & Peru: Locoto and rocoto, in Bolivia and Peru, respectively, refer to a separate class of short, round hot peppers that look somewhat like bell peppers, but beware for they are quite potent. Aj, in most of Hispanic South America, refers to the class of longer, skinnier hot peppers that are similar to the hot chiles of Mexico and Hispanic Central America. Cuba & Dominican Republic: One must generally specify aj picante since aj often refers to a type of sweet pepper (see section 29). Puerto Rico & Panama: One does not need to specify aj picante; aj will generally suffice. Costa Rica: One must generally specify chile picante as chile will tend to be understood to mean sweet pepper.

31 31.1

POTATO Data by Country patata (14/14). papa (95/95; 5/5 in each country).

SPAIN SPANISH AMERICA

31.2

Issues and Observations

Spain: Is papa used in the Canary Islands? Spanish America: Potatoes are not as common in countries that do not have cool climates such as those of the Hispanic Antilles.

32 32.1

SQUASHES / PUMPKINS Data by Country calabaza (7/7). zapallo (5/5). zapallo (14/14), calabaza (5/14). zapallo (4/4), calabaza (1/4). zapallo (4/4), calabaza (2/4). zapallo (7/7), lacayote (4/7). zapallo (10/11), calabaza (2/11). zapallo (5/5), zambo/sambo (5/5). auyama (5/7), zapallo (4/7), calabaza (4/7). auyama (8/8). calabaza (7/7). auyama (5/5). calabaza (5/5). zapallo (5/5), auyama (2/5), calabaza (2/5). ayote (6/6), zapallo (3/6). ayote (5/5), calabaza (2/5). ayote (5/5) pipin (3/5). 24

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO PANAMA COSTA RICA NICARAGUA HONDURAS

EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA MEXICO

ayote (6/7), pipin (5/6), calabaza (3/7). ayote (7/7), gicoy (5/7). calabaza (14/14).

32.2

Issues and Observations

General: The above terms refer, in the respective countries, to some of the different types of pumpkins and squashes that are native to each region. Bolivia, Peru & Ecuador: In Ecuador zambo or sambo refers to a round, light green and white striped squash on the outside that is white on the inside. Does the term lacayote refer to the same type of squash in Bolivia and Peru? Is Curcubita ficifolia the scientific name for this variety? Zucchini: Preliminary research turned up the following terms for this type of squash: calabacn (Spain, Colombia?, Venezuela?, Puerto Rico), calabacita (Mexico), zapall(it)o italiano (Chile, Argentina, Bolivia?, Peru), zuquini (Ecuador). Miscellaneous: Cayota, cayote, cidra and cidra cayote are listed in the Real Academia as referring to certain varieties of squashes (including chayote, see section 21) and anco and hoco are listed in Americanismos, Diccionario Ilustrado Sopena. Where are these terms used and what types of squashes or pumpkins do they refer to? What other common names are there for varieties of squashes/pumpkins and what are their corresponding scientific names?

33 33.1

SWEET POTATO Data by Country batata (12/17), boniato (10/17). camote (10/10). batata (20/24) camote (11/24). boniato (6/6). batata (7/7). camote (7/7). camote (14/14). camote (11/11). batata (11/11). batata (10/10). boniato (15/15). batata (8/8). batata (10/10). camote (35/35; 5/5 in each country).

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY BOLIVIA PERU ECUADOR COLOMBIA VENEZUELA CUBA DOMIN. REP. PUERTO RICO HISPANIC CENTRAL AMERICA & MEXICO

25

33.2

Issues and Observations

General: The above terms are not all equivalent to the United States sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) but refer to a wide range of sweet potato-like tubers. What are the scientific names corresponding to each of the above common names, as used in the respective countries? Spain: Buniato and moniato are listed in the Real Academia as synonyms of boniato whose definition, in turn, is quite similar to that of batata. Do all four refer to the same tuber? In which regions are buniato and moniato commonly used? Argentina: Batata and camote seem to refer to the same tuber. Batata is used in most of the country whereas camote is predominant in northwestern regions (Mendoza, San Juan, Catamarca, La Rioja, Salta and Jujuy).

34 34.1

TOMATO Data by Country tomate (7/7). tomate (90/90; 5/5 in each country). jitomate (8/13), tomate (7/13).

SPAIN REST OF SPANISH AMERICA MEXICO

34.2

Issues and Observations

Mexico: Preliminary research suggests that in central Mexico jitomate is used for the red tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and tomate refers to Physalis ixocarpa, a small, green, tomato-like fruit sometimes called a husk tomato. In northern Mexico, in contrast, tomate refers to the red tomato and tomatillo refers to the husk tomato. According to the Real Academia, miltomate is also used in Mexico in the sense of the husk tomato. Are there parts of Mexico where this is true? Southern Mexico? In what regions of the country are the above terms used in the two senses? Guatemala: Miltomate refers to the husk tomato.

35 35.1

YUC(C)A / MANIOC / CASSAVA (Maniot esculenta and other related species) Data by Country [not common] (10/10). [not common] (8/8). mandioca (10/10). mandioca (3/6), [not common] (3/6). mandioca (7/7). yuca (75/75; 5/5 in each country).

SPAIN CHILE ARGENTINA URUGUAY PARAGUAY REST OF SPANISH AMERICA

35.2

Issues and Observations

Argentina: Mandioca grows mostly in the northeastern part of the country, especially Misiones. 26

Mexico: Yuca exists in the southern part of the country but apparently is not very common in the North. Guacamote is defined in the Real Academia as a Mexicanism, especie de mandioca, but none of the Mexicans interviewed for this study had ever heard of this word used in any sense. Where is guacamote used and what (if any) variety of this tuber does it refer to? United States: Signs in supermarkets generally say yuca or yucca to refer to the tuber Maniot esculenta (yuca or mandioca) and do not usually say manioc or cassava. However, despite the prevailing usage, several English language dictionaries (including The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language) list only manioc and cassava in the sense of the tuber and only define yucca as plants of the genus Yucca (a totally unrelated plant). Yuca should be listed in English lan guage dictionaries in the sense of the tuber since, due to the influence of Spanish, it has become the de facto term in the United States for this item.

APPENDIX I: MISCELLANEOUS REGIONALISMS Celery cabbage or Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis): Nabo is used in Ecuador. Chontaduro / pejibaye / pif (Guilielma gasipaes, Bactris gasipaes): Chontaduro is used in Colombia and Ecuador whereas pif / pi(s)b are used in Panama, pejibaye / pejiballe in Costa Rica, and pijibaye in Nicaragua; all of the above words are masculine. Pixbae is the preferred spelling in Panama. Many Costa Ricans are uncertain as to whether the term should be spelled pejibaye or pejiballe. The former is the one accepted by the Real Academia which also lists pijibay as a variant used in both Costa Rica and Honduras. Where is pijibay actually used? What other countries have this item (generally eaten boiled and believed to be an aphrodisiac), and what names are used for it in each? Ciruela / jocote (Spondias purpurea L.): Ciruela is used in Colombia and Ecuador to refer to the fruit that in Hispanic Central America is called jocote. Cucumber: Cocombro and pepino cocombro are used in Colombia whereas only pepino is used in most other Hispanic countries. The Real Academia defines cohombro as a variedad de pepino. Do Spaniards generally distinguish pepinos from cohombros and do they use the latter term? Is the term cohombro used anywhere outside of Spain? (See section 15 for the meaning of pepino in Colombia.) Ginger: Kin is used in Peru instead of jengibre, which is used in most Hispanic countries. Is kin of Chinese origin? Malanga / yauta: The tuber that in Cuba is called malanga is called yauta in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Does this item exist in other Spanish-speaking regions (Central America?) and what are the names for it? Mamey / nspero / zapote: According to one observer, the fruit known in Cuba as mamey is called zapote in Central America whereas the Cuban zapote is the Central American nspero (Lipski: 20). Other travelers have indicated that mamey and zapote refer to the same fruit in western Cuba (e.g. Havana) and eastern Cuba (e.g. Santiago), respectively. And a Dominican that this author met in Ecuador also indicated that the terms mamey and zapote referred to the opposite fruits in Ecuador and the Dominican Republic, in other words, that mamey-Ecuador = zapote-Dominican Republic and vice versa. What scientific names do chicozapote, mamey, nspero, zapote and zapotillo refer to as used in the different regions of tropical Spanish America? 27

(Type of) parsnip (Arracacia xanthorrhiza): Apio is used in eastern Colombia, arracacha in western Colombia and zanahoria blanca in Ecuador. Are chiriva and pastinaca in Spain the same species as parsnip in the United States (Pastinaca sativa)? Plum: Claudia and reina claudia are used in Ecuador and ciruelo is used in Bolivia (for both fruit and tree), instead of ciruela, which is the term used for the fruit in most Hispanic countries. (See ciruela / jocote above.) Rutabaga (Brassica napobrassica): Papanabo chino is used in Ecuador. Star fruit / carambola (Averrhoa carambola, Averrhoa bilimbi?): Grosella china is used in Ecuador whereas carambola is used in several countries of Hispanic Central America and the Hispanic Antilles. Julia Mortons Fruits of Warm Climates states that the following terms are also used in this sense: vinagrillo (Dominican Republic), tiriguro (Costa Rica), tamarindo chino (Venezuela) and pepino de la India (El Salvador). Which countries have this fruit and what are the names for it in each? Turnip (Brassica rapa): Papanabo is used in Ecuador, instead of nabo which is used in most Hispanic countries. APPENDIX II: UNKNOWN ETYMOLOGIES The Real Academia does not provide etymologies for the terms listed below and does not list the words that appear with an asterisk (*). Some etymologies, such as those for limoncillo and mamn, are obvious but nonetheless should be listed. amero*, auyama*, betabel*, calala*, cambur, cuajiniquil*, cujn*, curuba*, cushn*, chabacano, chaucha, chiltoma*, chontaduro, chus*, gandul, guaba, guacamote, guajiniquil*, guama, guand, gicoy*, gisayote*, gulin*, gulln*, jojoto, kin*, lacayote, limoncillo*, locote, locoto, lulo*, mamn, maracuy*, marlo, melloco, olluco, paterna*, pejibaye, pepeto*, pif*, pijibay, piloy*, pipin, pisb*, pixbae*, quenepa*, taxo*, tumbo*, ulluco, uyuco*, veteraba*, yota*.

REFERENCES 1983. Americanismos, Diccionario Ilustrado Sopena. Barcelona: Grficas Ramn Sopena. Brcher, Heinz. 1989. Useful Plants of Neotropical Origin and Their Wild Relatives. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. Corominas, Joan and Jos A. Pascual. 1980. Diccionario Crtico Etimolgico Castellano e Hispnico. Madrid: Editorial Gredos. Dahlgren, Bror Eric. 1947. Tropical and Subtropical Fruits. Chicago: Chicago Natural History Museum. Garca-Pelayo, Ramn. 1983. Gran Diccionario Moderno Espaol/Ingls English/Spanish Larousse. Mexico City: Ediciones Larousse.

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Gentry, Alwyn H. 1996. A Field Guide to the Families and Genera of Woody Plants of Northwest South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru) with supplementary notes on herbaceous taxa. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Gove, Philip Babcock, ed. 1986. Websters Third International Dictionary. Springfield, Massachusetts: Merriam-Webster Inc., Publishers. Lipski, John M. 1994. Latin American Spanish. New York: Longman Group Limited. Morton, Julia F. 1987. Fruits of Warm Climates. Miami: Distributed by Creative Resource Systems. Real Academia Espaola. 1992. Diccionario de la Lengua Espaola. Twenty-First Edition. Madrid: Espasa-Calpe, S.A. Rehm, Sigmund and Gustav Espig. 1991. The Cultivated Plants of the Tropics and Subtropics. Cultivation, Economic Value, Utilization. Weikersheim, Germany: Verlag Josef Margraf. Rehm, Sigmund. 1994. Multilingual Dictionary of Agronomic Plants. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers. Ruskin, F. R., Hugh Popenoe, et al. 1989. Lost Crops of the Incas: little-known plants of the Andes with promise for worldwide cultivation. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. Schultes, Richard Evans and Robert F. Raffauf. 1990. The Healing Forest. Medicinal and Toxic Plants of the Northwest Amazonia. Portland, Oregon: Dioscorides Press. Soukhanov, Anne H., ed. 1996. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.2

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