Banana

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /bəˈnɑː.nə/

Definitions

1. A long curved tropical fruit with yellow skin and soft pale flesh that grows in large bunches on a herbaceous plant
2. A tropical fruit characterized by its elongated shape, yellow exterior, and sweet, soft interior, often found in clusters and commonly consumed fresh or used in dishes
3. This elongated fruit is renowned for its bright yellow peel and creamy, sweet pulp, typically growing in bunches on plants known for their herbaceous nature

Etymology: The fruit's name is one of the few common English words that traces back to West Africa, though exactly how it got there is still unclear. Its likely source is a Niger-Congo language spoken in the Guinea region, and several related forms appear in the area: Wolof "banaana", Eastern Maninkakan "banana", and a Vai word "ɓaana". Some scholars have even linked these to Arabic "banān", meaning "fingertip", though that connection is uncertain. English borrowed the word from Portuguese or Spanish, the languages of the traders who carried the fruit between Africa and the Americas. A Wolof dictionary by Pamela Munro and Dieynaba Gaye argues the reverse: that Wolof "banaana" was itself borrowed from Portuguese, which would make the African forms the borrowers rather than the source.

Synonyms: plantain, fruit