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mandioca

cassava

noun mahn-DYOH-kah Rare

Origin: From Tupi manioca.

Usage Note

Mandioca is the term used widely in the Southern Cone (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil's Spanish-speaking areas) for the starchy root crop known elsewhere as yuca (most of Latin America) or tapioca (in reference to the processed starch). All three come from the same plant, Manihot esculenta. The Tupi origin reflects the word's indigenous American roots.

Examples

"Prepararon mandioca frita como acompañamiento."

Natural Translation

They prepared fried cassava as a side dish.

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