Potatoes-la papa or la patata?

Question

In the Spanish lesson 1.3 the word la papa is used for potatoes. In other Spanish books the word for potatoes is La patata. Can either word be used? Is la papa just a shorten form of la patata? What is the difference?

Answer 1

The words patata and papa have the same meaning. Eventhough papa is more usual in Canary Islands, some parts of Spain, like Andalucía, and South-America. But everyone would understand you if you use both words...Regards from Madrid.

Answer 2

"Papa" is the original name of the tuber; later it was altered to "patata", from which other languages like English borrowed the term. Both forms are still used, but some regions prefer one over the other.

Answer 3

«You say po TA to, I say po ta to.»

potato

patata

patata.

(Cruce de papa y batata).

papa

papa2.

(Del quechua papa).