mahiz

Maize comes from Taíno mahiz (also mahís) — their word for the grain that was the foundation of Caribbean agriculture. Columbus recorded it in his journals.

The plant itself originated in Mexico, domesticated from teosinte grass over 9,000 years ago. But the word traveled a Caribbean route: Taíno to Spanish (maíz) to every language in the world.

In British and international English, 'maize' is the standard word. American English uses 'corn' (from an old English word meaning 'grain'), creating confusion: worldwide, 'corn' means any grain, but in America it means maize specifically.

Maize now accounts for the largest crop by volume on Earth. The Taíno word names a plant that feeds billions — in tortillas, polenta, cornbread, and animal feed across every continent.