Italian · Food & Drink
"Corn" in Italian: mais
il mais
Corn in Italian is il mais (mah-EES), masculine. Popcorn is i popcorn or il mais soffiato. Soft boiled-corn snacks still use mais on menus.
At the market
Prendo due pannocchie di mais.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce mais
Say it
mah-EES
/ˈma.is/
Mais is mah-EES: two vowels, stress on EES. Article: eel mah-EES.
"Corn" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| il mais | corn / maize Default noun. | Default noun. |
| pannocchia di mais | ear of corn On the cob. | On the cob. |
| farina di mais | cornmeal Polenta base. | Polenta base. |
| mais dolce | sweet corn Canned or fresh. | Canned or fresh. |
How to use mais in real life
- 1At the market
Prendo due pannocchie di mais.
I'll take two ears of corn.
Mais on the cob.
- 2Cooking
La polenta è fatta con farina di mais.
Polenta is made with cornmeal.
Farina di mais.
- 3Cinema snack
Vuoi del mais soffiato?
Want some popcorn?
Mais soffiato.
Mistakes English speakers make with mais
Incorrect: Compro del corn.
Correct: Compro del mais.
Use mais, not English corn.
Incorrect: La mais è gialla.
Correct: Il mais è giallo.
Mais is masculine: il mais.
Good to know
Northern Italy lives on farina di mais as polenta; summer street carts sell pannocchie. Mais sounds agricultural and kitchen-ready, not exotic.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing sides at a grill
ChatPal
Prendiamo anche del mais?
Shall we get some corn too?
You
Sì, una pannocchia di mais per me.
Yes, an ear of corn for me.
ChatPal
Il mais qui è dolce, vedrai.
The corn here is sweet, you'll see.
You
Perfetto, con un po' di sale.
Perfect, with a bit of salt.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Corn" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Corn" in Italian
Is mais masculine?
Yes: il mais.
How do I say corn on the cob?
Pannocchia di mais.
Popcorn?
Popcorn or mais soffiato.
Cornmeal?
Farina di mais.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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