IPA: //ˈmɪlpə//
KK: /mɪlˈpɑ/
A type of cultivated field, particularly for growing maize, often cleared from forest land and used for a few seasons before being abandoned.
The farmers prepared the milpa for planting maize this season.
The word 'milpa' originates from Nahuatl, a language spoken by the Aztecs, meaning a type of agricultural field or plot used for growing crops, particularly maize. It refers specifically to a traditional farming system in Mesoamerica.
Think of 'milpa' as a special type of field where crops like maize are grown, connecting it to its roots in Nahuatl.