Spanish Word of the Day: Camote (sweet potato)

Camote and batata are the Spanish words for sweet potato. In Mexico and Central America, camote is commonly used to refer to sweet potatoes. In other regions, people may use batata or boniato.

The Spanish word camote originates from the Nahuatl language, which is a language spoken by the ancient Aztec people in central Mexico. The original word is camotl. The word changed to camote when Spanish settlers arrived in Mexico. 

Batata, on the other hand, comes from Arawak language, spoken by the Arawak people of the Caribbean and parts of South America. When Spanish explorers arrived, they adopted the word and it spread to other Spanish-speaking regions. 

Some Spanish-speaking countries also refer to the yam as camote despite it being botanically different, making it the wrong term.

Camote is a masculine noun and it takes the following definite and indefinite articles: 

• el camote = the sweet potato
• los camotes = the sweet potatoes
• un camote = a sweet potato
• unos camotes = some sweet potatoes

Camotes are incredibly versatile and can be prepared in various ways. Some popular dishes include camotes dulces horneados (baked sweet potatoes), puré de camote (mashed sweet potatoes), camote frito (sweet potato fries), pastel de camote (sweet potato pie), and camote en miel (sweet potato in honey). 

Camotes en miel are common in Mexico. They are cooked with a syrupy mixture of piloncillo (unrefined brown sugar) and spices, making a sweet, comforting dish.

Some types of camotes include the following:

•  camote de pulpa anaranjada = orange-fleshed sweet potatoes 
• camote de pulpa blanca = white-fleshed sweet potatoes
• camotes morados = purple sweet potatoes

Camotes have lots of health benefits. They are rich in Vitamin A, essential for visión saludable (healthy vision), immune function, and salud de la piel (skin health). They have Vitamin C which supports salud inmune (immune health) and helps absorb iron. Camote also contains Vitamin B6 which is important for brain development and function. 

Their high fibre content promotes digestión saludable (healthy digestion) and helps prevent constipation. The antioxidantes (antioxidants) help protect cells from damage and support overall health. Lastly, they also have minerales (minerals) such as potasio (potassium) which helps regulate blood pressure and support muscle and nerve function.

Spanish idioms featuring ‘camote’