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

Example Sentences

Most of the starters — salmon tartare with quinoa, meat sushi and beef carpaccio topped with Parmesan — didn’t wow us, despite their theatrical presentation.

From Salon • Oct. 31, 2025

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025

Typically, I get the protein breakfast with quinoa, egg whites and chicken.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 25, 2025

A family of Peruvian farmers harvests quinoa near Lake Titicaca.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 26, 2024

Kidney beans, peanuts, green and red chili peppers, sorrel, cress, and quinoa, yucca and cucumbers, and of course potatoes and corn were piled, steaming, into the people’s bowls.

From "The Ugly One" by Leanne Statland Ellis