papa vs. patata

Question

Hey everyone,

I'm a bit confused but I think it's no big deal and surely you can help me out with this: When I started studying Spanish, I got to learn "patata" for "potato". Now I read about "papa" everywhere.

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--> What is the difference? Where does which one get used at/for?

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Thanks for paying attention and helping me!

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Patata just sounds ridiculous jajaja... I thought it was made up or Spanglish first time I heard it. - DJ_Huero, May 24, 2012

It does sonds comical! I agree with you DJ! Hey, that is a very loving potato! - farallon7, May 25, 2012

Um, I actually call potatoes "patatas", but then again I'm not Spanish. Our local vocabulary is heavily influenced by Spain though. :) - cheskasullivan, May 25, 2012

Answer 1

The actual name is "papa". In Spain they call it "patata" in order to make the distinction from the pope that in Spanish is "Papa"

• Papa is original of South America. Any potato in the world came from South America. Its root name is not from Spanish. Only in Spain is call "patata"
• Just call it "patata" in Spain and ""papa"" in the rest of the Spanish speaking world!
• 

Interesante, no sabía que fuera por eso por lo que decimos "patata" en España (aunque también hay por aquí quien dice "papa" de forma familiar) :))) - Cordobesa, May 25, 2012

It is interesting! I have several friends going to Spain this Summer and I am jealous! I could ask for some "patatas" and not feel "sheepish" ; ] - farallon7, May 25, 2012

Answer 2

I always use papa.

Answer 3

From what I have read, the word originated in Perú from the Quechua word "papa". The Spanish soldiers lumped it in with other tubers and used the word "bappa", and then "bappata". As both the tuber and the word were brought to Spain, this evolved over time to "patata". For those who remained in the "New World", it remained "papa".

So....it just depends on where you are. In Spain, it is generally "patata", and in Latin America, "papa".

Answer 4

Hola Machri.

In general:

Patatas = Potatoes (vegetable) Papas = Fried potatoes (Patatas fritas) or Snacks of potatoes (sliced potatoes)... bag of Ruffles, etc... or "Patatas" in some regions.

Te explico:

Patatas es un tubérculo y es la hortaliza entera. Mira la foto de farallon. Eso son patatas. También se llaman patatas a las "patatas fritas". Puede ser redondas (y se venden en bolsas de snacks: Ruffles...), o tipo chips (McDonalds), y más clases.

Papas

En Valencia llamamos papas a las Ruffles. It's a colloquial name in order to call a bag of sliced potatoes. We calles "papas" o "patatas fritas" En Madrid por ejemplo, no se llama "papas" a las Ruffles. Allí llaman "patatas". En Canarias hay un plato típico que se llama "papas" y se hacen al horno con mucha sal. Las patatas son enteras (como las de la foto de farallon). En el sur de España (Andalucía), hay otro plato típico que se llama "papas aliñás".

En general la palabra "papas" se entiende en toda España, y suele ser usada de manera muy coloquial entre los niños... Dad, I'd like "papas"?... referring to a bag of chips of potatoes.

Answer 5

I haven't heard anyone non Spaniard saying "patata". We say "papa" in America, because it's a Quechua (Inca) word meaning "potato". It was a "papa" long before we spoke Spanish.

Answer 6

Se le llama papa patata! He is called papa patata!

Answer 7

En España=la patata

En América (continente)= la papa

Pero, el papa es Pope en inglés. Para mí prefiero usar la patata aunque la papa es aceptable. Espero que le ayude a usted.

Answer 8

I've been to Barcelona, Mallorca and Ibiza a lot and I constantly only heard "patata". The first time I got confronted with "papa" was here, that's why I'm confused and want to know, which one's "right" or at least, where it is used...

aka you've been to Spain. That's 1 of the 21 countries with Spanish as the official language. The vast majority of Spanish speakers are outside Spain, and seem to use 'papa'. - sinsonte, May 25, 2012

Answer 9

...and which type of Spanish do you speak? I guess it's your mother-tongue?