kabocha

noun

ka·​bo·​cha kə-ˈbō-chə 

variants or kabocha squash or kabocha pumpkin or less commonly kobocha or kobocha squash or kobocha pumpkin

: a winter squash (Curcubita maxima) of Japanese origin that is round with somewhat flattened top and bottom, typically dark green skin usually streaked or mottled with pale green, and yellowish-orange sweet flesh

Scoop the squash from its rind. There's no need to be too careful; kabocha squash skin is thin and easily eaten.

—The Chicago Daily Herald

Kabochas make a lovely table decoration until they're cooked.

—The Grand Rapids Herald Review

If you don't have access to kabocha pumpkin, which can be found at the State Farmers Market, it can be substituted for butternut squash or canned pumpkin puree …

—Brigid Washington

called also Japanese pumpkin

Examples of kabocha in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some other varieties of squash, such as kabocha and Hubbard, are too thick to be appetizing—and spaghetti squash is the toughest and least appealing of all. — Bridget Shirvell, Martha Stewart, 13 Sep. 2026

In the produce section, there’s a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including Hawaiian purple yams, kabocha squash, yuca root, papayas, jackfruit, tomatillos, poblano peppers, Indian eggplants and big tubs full of melons. — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026

Sweet potatoes provide nearly double the potassium and vitamin C of kabocha squash and have stronger evidence supporting cardiovascular benefits. — Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 2 June 2026

Grown in the summer months, this hardy vegetable, including acorn, butternut, delicata, kabocha, and more varieties, can be a staple ingredient for many dishes, from curries, risottos, soups, sides, and pies. — Lauren David, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Japanese, "kabocha squash, pumpkin"

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above