Spanish · Food & Drink
"Corn" in Spanish: maíz
el maíz
Note: the cob, Mexico: el elote
Corn is el maíz (mah-EES), a masculine noun. A cob is often el elote in Mexico. Tortillas and many snacks start from maíz.
At a market
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How to pronounce maíz
Say it
mah-EES
/maˈis/
Two syllables: mah-EES. Stress EES. The í in maíz marks stress.
"Corn" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| el maíz | corn / maize The grain and the plant. | The grain and the plant. |
| el elote | corn on the cob (Mexico) Street snack and market cob. | Street snack and market cob. |
| la tortilla de maíz | corn tortilla Everyday Mexican staple. | Everyday Mexican staple. |
| los granos de maíz | corn kernels Cooking and salads. | Cooking and salads. |
How to use maíz in real life
- 1At a market
¿Venden maíz para hacer tortillas?
Do you sell corn for making tortillas?
Maíz names the grain before it becomes dough.
- 2Cooking
Agrega granos de maíz a la sopa.
Add corn kernels to the soup.
Granos de maíz are the loose kernels.
- 3Choosing tortillas
Prefiero tortillas de maíz.
I prefer corn tortillas.
Tortillas de maíz contrasts with flour tortillas.
Mistakes English speakers make with maíz
Incorrect: La maíz está dulce.
Correct: El maíz está dulce.
Maíz is masculine. Use el maíz, este maíz.
Incorrect: Quiero corn en la ensalada.
Correct: Quiero maíz en la ensalada.
Say maíz, not English corn. For a cob in Mexico, elote works too.
Good to know
Maíz is central to Mexican and Andean cooking—tortillas, tamales, arepas, and drinks. Elote is the fresh cob on Mexican streets. Spain uses maíz for the grain too.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing tortillas at a store
ChatPal
¿Tortillas de maíz o de harina?
Corn or flour tortillas?
You
De maíz, por favor.
Corn, please.
ChatPal
¿Un paquete o dos?
One pack or two?
You
Uno es suficiente.
One is enough.
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 Spanish
Is maíz masculine or feminine?
Masculine: el maíz, un maíz dulce. Keep the í accent.
What is elote?
In Mexico, corn on the cob. The grain is still maíz.
How do I say corn tortilla?
Tortilla de maíz.
How is maíz pronounced?
mah-EES, two syllables. The í in maíz marks that stress.
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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