じゃがいも

じゃがいも
noun
potato
1. potato
A starchy root vegetable commonly used in cooking.
じゃがいもの(かわ)()く。
To peel a potato.
カレーにじゃがいもを()れる。
To add potatoes to curry.
北海道(ほっかいどう)はじゃがいもの産地(さんち)だ。
Hokkaido is a potato-producing region.
じゃがいもを()でてポテトサラダを(つく)った。
I boiled potatoes and made potato salad.
(にく)じゃがにはじゃがいもと牛肉(ぎゅうにく)玉葱(たまねぎ)(はい)っている。
Nikujaga contains potatoes, beef, and onions.

じゃがいも is one of the most common vegetables in Japanese home cooking, used in a wide range of dishes from stews to salads.

ALTERNATE NAMES:

  • 馬鈴薯(ばれいしょ): formal/written term for potato (seen on menus, in recipes)
  • ポテト: used mainly in loanword compounds (フライドポテト, ポテトサラダ)

COMMON DISHES:

  • (にく)じゃが: meat and potato stew (classic home cooking)
  • ポテトサラダ: potato salad
  • フライドポテト: French fries
  • コロッケ: croquette
  • ()ふきいも: boiled potatoes tossed until floury

ETYMOLOGY:
From ジャガタラ (Jacatra, old name for Jakarta) + いも (tuber). Potatoes were introduced to Japan via Southeast Asia in the 17th century.

RELATED:

  • さつまいも: sweet potato
  • 里芋(さといも): taro