Definition of the word cocoa

Pronunciation of vocabulary cocoa

cocoanoun

ca cao

/ˈkəʊkəʊ//ˈkəʊkəʊ/

Origin of the word cocoa

The word "cocoa" has its origins in the Spanish language. The Spanish word for cocoa is "cacao," which comes from the Mayan word "kakaw," meaning "bitter water" or "god food." The Mayans were the first known civilization to cultivate the cacao tree and to use its seeds for both food and medicine. When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the region that is now Mexico in the 16th century, they encountered the Mayan word "cacahuATL," which combined two words, "cacah," meaning "ragged" or "bitter," and "atl," meaning "water." The Spanish, who were partial to pronouncing words in their own language, took the first syllable of "cacahuATL" and created the word "cacao," which eventually made its way into English as "cocoa." The English word "cocoa" was first recorded in the late 16th century, but the modern use of the word to refer to the ground-up seeds of the cacao tree for its flavor and utility as a beverage or an ingredient in other foods is less than 200 years old. The use of the word "cocoa" over "cacao" likely comes from the mixing of Dutch with English in the 18th century, as familiarity with the Dutch word "kokooooi," which sounds like "cocoa," increased. In conclusion, the origin of the word "cocoa" can be traced back to the Mayan word "kakaw," meaning "god food," and passes through the Spanish word "cacao" before reaching English. Its evolution from the original Mayan term highlights the cultural exchange and evolution that has occurred between different civilizations throughout history.

Vocabulary summary cocoa

typenoun: (cocoa)

meaning(botany) coconut tree

meaningcoconut

typenoun

meaningpowder cacao

meaningwater cacao

meaningcolor cacao

Example of vocabulary cocoanamespace

meaning

dark brown powder made from the seeds (called cocoa beans) of a tropical tree

bột màu nâu sẫm làm từ hạt (gọi là hạt ca cao) của một loại cây nhiệt đới

meaning

a hot drink made by mixing cocoa powder with milk and/or water and usually sugar

đồ uống nóng được làm bằng cách trộn bột ca cao với sữa và/hoặc nước và thường là đường

  • a mug of cocoa

    một cốc ca cao

meaning

a cup of cocoa

một cốc ca cao

Words, synonyms, related vocabulary cocoa


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