quinoa

American  

[keen-wah, kee-noh-uh] / ˈkin wɑ, kiˈnoʊ ə /

Also quinua

noun

1. a tall crop plant, Chenopodium quinoa, of the amaranth family, cultivated mainly in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile for its small, ivory-colored seed, which is used as a food staple.

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quinoa British  

/ ˈkiːnəʊə, kwɪˈnəʊə /

noun

1. a grain high in nutrients traditionally grown as a staple food high in the Andes

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Etymology

Origin of quinoa

First recorded in 1615–25; from Spanish quinoa, quínoa, quinua, from Quechua kínua, kinúwa

Explanation

Quinoa is a South American flowering plant and also the name of the starchy, edible grain that's harvested from it. Quinoa, like rice, oats, and barley, is a grain that's delicious when it's boiled or steamed. The part you eat is the protein-rich seed of the quinoa plant, which is closely related to both amaranth and spinach. Quinoa is an ancient food, native to the Andes Mountains and eaten by humans for about 4,000 years. Its name comes from a Spanish spelling of the Incan kinua.

Example Sentences

Delgado chalks up his health to the fact that he’s been a pescatarian for 45 years, with a penchant for salmon, avocados, quinoa and garbanzo beans, and that he prioritizes hydration.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2025

He is making more salads and eating more high-protein foods such as quinoa.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025

The complete kit includes cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, and radicchio, roasted sunflower seeds, toasted quinoa, dried bits of mango and a Thai-style sweet and spicy vinaigrette.

From Salon • Aug. 7, 2025

A family of Peruvian farmers harvests quinoa near Lake Titicaca.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 26, 2024

There were smiles on many faces, for we had feasted well on deer and quwi stew, corn-dough loaves and quinoa, wild strawberries and large, juicy cherimoyas.

From "The Ugly One" by Leanne Statland Ellis