Japanese word

とうもろこし

Pronunciation

Romajitōmorokoshi

Meaning

  • nouncorn

Example

このとうもろこしは甘いです。ko no tō mo ro ko shi wa ama i de su

This corn is sweet.

Illustration for とうもろこし (corn)

More examples

夏にとうもろこしを食べます。natsu ni tō mo ro ko shi o ta be ma su

I eat corn in summer.

夏祭りではとうもろこしを焼いて売ります。natsu matsu ri de wa tō mo ro ko shi o ya i te u ri ma su

At summer festivals, we grill and sell corn.

Core concept

It refers to a crop whose large kernels grow on a cob and are eaten as food.

Common phrases

  • とうもろこしを食べるtō mo ro ko shi o ta be ru

    eat corn

  • とうもろこしをゆでるtō mo ro ko shi o yu de ru

    boil corn

  • とうもろこしを焼くtō mo ro ko shi o ya ku

    grill corn

Similar words

とうきびtōkibi: A regional word for the corn plant or its edible kernels.
コーンkōn: A loanword for corn, often used for its kernels or foods made from them.

Definition in Japanese

実を食用とするイネ科の一年草。また、その実。jitsu o shoku yō to su ru i ne ka no ichi nen sō ma ta so no jitsu

Word origin

とうもろこし (tōmorokoshi) combines 唐 (tō, "China or foreign") and もろこし (morokoshi, "sorghum"), an older name applied to this foreign grain.

Usage tips

  • In North American English, corn usually means maize, while British English can use corn for cereal grain in general.

Word lists with this word