1.
potato
The potato vegetable. Used less commonly than じゃがいも for the raw vegetable, but common in food product names and restaurant menus.
CONTRAST WITH じゃがいも:
じゃがいも is the standard Japanese word for the raw potato vegetable (used when cooking from scratch). ポテト is used more in processed food names (ポテトサラダ, ポテトチップス) and as short for フライドポテト (french fries) at restaurants.
Common collocations
- フライドポテト: french fries (formal menu term)
- ポテトサラダ: potato salad
- ポテトチップス: potato chips
- ポテトコロッケ: potato croquette
- マッシュポテト: mashed potatoes