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banana

bah-NAH-nah/baˈnana/

“banana” means “banana” in Spanish (the yellow tropical fruit).

banana

Also: plantain
NounfA1
Argentina & UruguaySpain
A single bright yellow banana with a small brown stem, resting on a clean white background.

📝 In Action

Comí una banana en el desayuno.

A1

I ate a banana for breakfast.

Me gusta el licuado de banana con leche.

A2

I like the banana smoothie with milk.

Ten cuidado con la cáscara de la banana en el suelo.

B1

Be careful with the banana peel on the floor.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • plátano (banana/plantain)
  • guineo (banana (Caribbean/Central America))
  • cambur (banana (Venezuela))

Common Collocations

  • cáscara de banana – banana peel
  • licuado de banana – banana smoothie/milkshake
  • banana madura – ripe banana

Idioms & Expressions

  • a precio de banana – very cheap or for a bargain
  • hacerse la banana – to act cool or show off (common in Argentina)

Vocabulary Collections

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "banana" in Spanish:

banana→plantain→

🗣️ Practice in a Tongue Twister

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: banana

Question 1 of 3

Which word is most likely used for banana in Spain?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
bananero(relating to banana production/tree) — Adjective
bananita(little banana) — Noun
bananal(banana plantation) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Likely from the Wolof word 'banaana' (West Africa), entering Spanish via Portuguese.

First recorded: 16th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: bananaPortuguese: bananaFrench: banane

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'banana' and 'plátano' the same thing?

Botanically, yes, but in cooking, 'plátano' often refers to the larger, starchier plantains that you fry, while 'banana' refers to the sweet fruit you eat raw. This varies greatly by country!

Why does my textbook say 'plátano' but my friend says 'banana'?

Textbooks often teach 'Standard Spanish' or 'Spain Spanish' (plátano), while 'banana' is the preferred term in many parts of the Americas.

Does 'banana' have an accent mark?

No. In Spanish, words ending in a vowel that are stressed on the second-to-last syllable do not need a written accent mark.