Cocoa Definition Cocoa Definition 1

Cocoa (noun) — a brown powder obtained from roasted cocoa beans and used to make chocolate and impart a chocolate flavor to drinks and dishes.

A hot drink made from cocoa powder and prepared with hot water or milk, sometimes with added sugar.

Part of speech:
Noun (uncountable)
Phonetic transcription (IPA):
/ˈkəʊ.kəʊ/
CEFR level:
A1
Word frequency:

How to Pronounce “Cocoa”?

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Tips for cocoa pronunciation: 

pronounce this word in two syllables: koh — koh. Remember that the letter “a” at the end is not pronounced. You can simply repeat the first syllable twice.

Level up your English with Koto!

Examples: How to Use “Cocoa” in a Sentence?

Cocoa has a fantastic ability to give pleasant emotions, and besides, it fits perfectly into various sentences. Look how expressly the meaning of cocoa sounds in alternative situations:

In the evening, I like to curl up in a chair with a cup of warm cocoa.

Yesterday I managed to buy excellent quality cocoa at the store!

In some dessert recipes, chocolate is replaced with cocoa.

To make cocoa taste softer, add a spoonful of sugar to it.

Mom always made a nice hot mug of cocoa if I was having a hard day.

What Are Synonyms for the Word “Cocoa”?

Blending cocoa with water gives you a completely new taste. And adding new extras to a word allows you to see the whole versatility of speech.

Related nouns: chocolate powder drink cup milk marshmallows beans

Synonyms (contextual): hot chocolate chocolate milk

Common collocations: hot cocoa make cocoa cocoa powder cocoa beans cocoa cup

“Cocoa” Word Formation and Description in Context

Just as a cup of warm drink in the evening can turn a dull evening into a cozy story, cocoa in English is capable of forming new, fresh expressions in various contexts.

With adjectives: hot cocoa sweet cocoa homemade cocoa dark cocoa

With verbs: drink cocoa make cocoa mix cocoa add cocoa enjoy cocoa

With nouns (noun + noun): cocoa powder mug of cocoa cocoa butter cocoa drink

Idioms and Phrases with “Cocoa”

If you want to study a cocoa description in detail, turn to folk wisdom, because many generations have managed to see shades and nuances that complement the main meaning.

  • I should cocoa! — This is a British English phrase that expresses strong agreement, meaning “I should say so,” “I should think so,” “I should hope so.” It is also used ironically, expressing disbelief, mockery, etc., meaning “I should think not.”

    A: “Hey, you wanna join us for some karaoke?

    B: “I should cocoa!”

  • One, one coco full basket — a Jamaican proverb that embodies the profound truth that one must build something meaningful one step at a time and not expect success to be achieved overnight.

      Try not to overwhelm yourself with all the work we still have to do for this project. One, one basket full of cocoa, right?

Test Your Knowledge of Cocoa Meaning – Quiz Time!

If you are already looking forward to a few minutes in the company of a fantastic cup of hot aromatic cocoa, stay and let’s check if you can claim that you now know how to spell “cocoa.”

Type 1: True/false statements:
Choose the correct answer:
1
Cocoa is obtained from chocolate.
2
To make hot cocoa, you need to mix the powder with hot water or milk.
3
Cocoa has a spicy and salty taste.
Type 2: Right word order:
Put these phrases in the right order:
1
made
is
cocoa
Chocolate
beans
from
2
cocoa
I
to
prefer
coffee
breakfast
for
3
grandma
always
My
me
made
cocoa
Type 3: Choose the correct option
Select the one closest in meaning to define cocoa in an English context:
1
Tom drinks hot cocoa before bed. What is "cocoa"?
2
The children asked for cocoa on a cold day. Why did they want it?
3
Sarah mixed cocoa powder with milk and sugar. What did she make?

Enjoy personalized learning!

“Cocoa” Word in Other Languages

If you pour yourself a nice cup of hot cocoa, we assure you that your condition will improve, regardless of the country you are in and how exactly this word sounds in another language.

Language Word for “Cocoa”
Flag Spanish Spanish   Cacao
Flag French French   Cacao
Flag German German   Kakao

Did You Know It? Fun Facts About “Cocoa”

However, cocoa is not just a mixture of water or milk with aromatic powder. Want to know what does cocoa mean? We’ve got many more interesting facts to share!

  • Dogs should never be given cocoa.

    According to the PDSA organization’s website, this is due to a substance called theobromine, which is harmless to humans but toxic to dogs and other pets because they have difficulty metabolizing (breaking down) it.
  • Cocoa is healthier and softer than coffee.

    A serving of cocoa contains less caffeine than a cup of decaffeinated coffee, which means you can enjoy it without harming your cardiovascular system.
  • Most cocoa is produced in West Africa.

    Experts from the Swiss Sustainable Cocoa Platform note that Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are the two largest cocoa-producing countries, accounting for 50% of global production, followed by Ecuador with 9%. In Asia, Indonesia is the largest producer.
  • The history of cocoa goes back thousands of years.

    Historians believe that it was the Olmec civilization in southern Mexico that first began roasting the beans of the cocoa tree, then mixing them with water and other ingredients. Archaeologists have found Olmec pottery with traces of chocolate dating back to about 1700 BC.
  • Cocoa has been a source of religious controversy.

    In the 16th and 17th centuries, a debate arose: was it a drink or a food? This distinction determined whether European Catholics could consume chocolate during religious fasts. Today, many clergy forbid the consumption of cocoa during Lent.
  • Cocoa helped polar explorers.

    British explorer Robert Falcon Scott and his crew ate hot cocoa and stew during their year-long trek to the South Pole, but Scott’s crew ran out of provisions on the way back and died, while Amundsen, with five times as much cocoa, returned a hero.

Famous Quotes Featuring “Cocoa”

No matter how important you are, the smell of cocoa most likely excites any celebrity equally. And the proof is in their statements about this drink:

  “At no other time has Nature concentrated such a wealth of valuable nourishment into such a small space as in the cocoa bean.”

Alexander von Humboldt

Explanation: The famous naturalist and researcher emphasized with his statement how much nature can put into even a tiny fruit of a tree, how great the power of natural resources is, and how amazing the world around us is.

  “The moment of cocoa‑drinking was always the moment of confidences.”

— Stella Benson

Explanation: These words of the English writer became a revelation about those touching moments of closeness and comfort that all people value, despite the transience and seriousness of everyday life.

  “Even if you feed the cow cocoa, you will not get chocolate.”

— Bill Vaughan

Explanation: The American comedian and columnist jokingly noted that it is often not only the initial data that is important, but also how you handle it.