jicama

[ hee-kuh-muh, hik-uh- ]

noun

1. the large, edible, tuberous root of a tropical American plant, Pachyrhizus erosus, of the legume family, eaten as a vegetable either raw or boiled.

jicama

/ dʒɪˈkɑːmə; xɪkama /

noun

1. a pale brown turnip with crisp sweet flesh, originating in Mexico

Word History and Origins

Origin of jicama¹

1900–05; < Mexican Spanish < Nahuatl xīcama, xīcamatl

Word History and Origins

Origin of jicama¹

C17: from Mexican Spanish jícama , from Nahuatl xicama

Example Sentences

“Been wearing my roots and flying this flag,” she sang in “Jícama,” which former President Barack Obama listed among his favorite songs of 2019.

From New York Times

But on one spring evening, Fadul and her team served thin slices of the raw fruit, which tastes like a cross between jicama and cucumber.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, there is a mixture of green leaf lettuce, carrots, red cabbage, jicama, and slices of tofu pan-fried with lemongrass and vegetarian oyster sauce.

From Seattle Times

Jicama provides a juicy crunch like cucumber, but with a more consistently satisfying bite.

From Seattle Times

I included the usual suspects like cucumber, carrots and celery, but also radishes, jicama, cauliflower, broccoli and a couple things I'm not sure I had ever even had before in my quest for variety.

From Salon