maíz

corn

noun mah-EES Less Common

Origin: From Taino mahiz, via Spanish adoption in the Caribbean

Also means

maize

Usage Note

Maíz carries a written accent on the í to break the diphthong — without it, maiz would be read as one syllable. Its plural is maíces (accent retained, -z → -ces). The word entered Spanish from Taino, the indigenous Caribbean language, making it one of the earliest New World borrowings. In Mexico, elote refers to fresh corn on the cob, while maíz covers dried/processed corn and the crop in general.

Examples

"El maíz es un cultivo esencial en México."

Natural Translation

Corn is an essential crop in Mexico.

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