How to pronounce quinoa
Say it like KEEN-wah. Quinoa has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KEEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce quinoa. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KEEN
- wah
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Two syllables: 'KEEN-wah'. The spelling hides the w sound.
Quinoa pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KEENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- wahKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of quinoa
American and British speakers say quinoa in essentially the same way: /ˈkinwɑ/ in the US and /ˈkiːnwɑː/ in the UK.
British respelling: KEEN-wah.
What does quinoa mean?
- A goosefoot (Chenopodium quinoa) native to the Andes and cultivated for its edible seeds.
- The high-protein dried fruits and seeds of this plant, used as a food staple and ground into flour.
Where does quinoa come from?
Borrowed from Spanish quinua, from Quechua kinwa.
Questions about saying quinoa
How do you pronounce quinoa?
Say KEEN-wah. The American pronunciation is /ˈkinwɑ/. In British English it is /ˈkiːnwɑː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in quinoa?
Quinoa has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KEEN). Broken into parts: KEEN · wah.
Do Americans and Brits say quinoa the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkinwɑ/ and the British form is /ˈkiːnwɑː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.