Cacao vs Cocoa
What’s the difference between them?
Cacao
Meaning:
Cacao is a tree and its seeds which are used to make cocoa, chocolate, and other food products.
Examples:
1. The cacao beans are the main ingredient in chocolate.
2. We like to make a hot drink out of ground cacao and almond milk.
3. The cacao tree is native to South America.
Cocoa
Meaning:
The powder made from ground roasted cocoa beans, used to make chocolate.
Examples:
1. I like to make hot cocoa on cold winter days.
2. The cocoa beans are roasted before being made into a powder.
3. I'm going to make some chocolate cookies with cocoa powder.
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cacao
1. Cocoa
2. Chocolate
3. Bean
4. Theobroma cacao
5. Dark brown powdery substance
1. Nescience
2. Ignorance
3. Sweetener
4. Sugar
5. Unknowingness
Cocoa
1. Chocolate
2. Hot Chocolate
3. Cocoa Powder
4. Cocoa Beans
5. Drinking Chocolate
1. Coffee
2. Sour
3. Bitter
4. Hide
5. Uncover
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Cacao", "Cocoa".
1. Cacao is the raw, unprocessed form of the cacao bean, while cocoa is the ground and roasted version of the cacao bean.
2. Use a mnemonic phrase like 'Cacao goes first, Cocoa goes second'.
Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words
Frequently asked questions
When should the word 'cacao' be used?
Cacao should be used when referring to the tree and its seeds which are used to make cocoa, chocolate, and other food products.
When is the appropriate context for using the word 'cocoa'?
Cocoa should be used when referring to the powder made from ground roasted cocoa beans, used to make chocolate.
Do the two words share the same pronunciation?
No, they do not share the same pronunciation. Cacao is pronounced as 'keh-KOW' and cocoa is pronounced as 'KOH-koh'.
What are some common mistakes people make when using these words?
One of the most common mistakes people make when using these words is confusing the two and using them interchangeably. Another common mistake is mispronouncing the words, especially when pronouncing cacao as 'Koh-koh' instead of 'keh-KOW'.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. The _____ tree grows primarily in tropical regions and produces the seeds used for making chocolate.
2. I love to drink hot _____ with marshmallows on cold winter nights.
3. The chocolate bars label says its made from 70% pure _____.
4. When buying chocolate, I always check the percentage of _____ content to determine its quality.
5. After grinding the beans and removing the fat, you are left with _____ powder.
6. Farmers in the region have been cultivating _____ for generations, contributing to the chocolate industry.
1. The cacao tree grows primarily in tropical regions and produces the seeds used for making chocolate.
Explanation: We are referring to the tree and its seeds, so cacao is the correct choice.
2. I love to drink hot cocoa with marshmallows on cold winter nights.
Explanation: Here, we are referring to the drink made from the powder, which is cocoa.
3. The chocolate bars label says its made from 70% pure cacao.
Explanation: The label on a chocolate bar typically indicates the percentage of cacao content, referring to the pure content from the cacao seeds.
4. When buying chocolate, I always check the percentage of cacao content to determine its quality.
Explanation: Quality chocolate often refers to the percentage of pure cacao, indicating how much of the bar is from the cacao seeds.
5. After grinding the beans and removing the fat, you are left with cocoa powder.
Explanation: Once the cacao beans are processed, the result is cocoa powder.
6. Farmers in the region have been cultivating cacao for generations, contributing to the chocolate industry.
Explanation: The farmers are cultivating the tree and its seeds, so cacao is the correct term to use.
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Download the PDF with a list of commonly confused words made as flashcards for comfortable learning.
List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.