noun
quinoa
KEEN-wah
noun
1
A grain-like plant native to the Andes, grown for its edible seeds.
"Farmers in the Andes have grown quinoa for thousands of years."
2
The small, protein-rich seeds of this plant, cooked and eaten like a grain.
"She served a salad of quinoa, tomatoes, and feta."
How to Use Quinoa
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA protein-rich seed from a South American plant, cooked and eaten similarly to rice or couscous.
Common mistake
It's pronounced "KEEN-wah," not "kwin-OH-ah" — the spelling is misleading for English speakers.
Word Forms
quinoas plural
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Farmers in the Andes have grown _____ for thousands of years.
Etymology
From Spanish quinua, borrowed from the Andean Quechua language.