baˈnaban: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “baˈnaban” mean?
A long curved fruit with a yellow skin and soft, sweet, white flesh inside.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long curved fruit with a yellow skin and soft, sweet, white flesh inside.
The tropical plant that produces this fruit; also used metaphorically to describe something curved or crescent-shaped.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Both use 'banana' for the fruit. The informal term 'bananas' (meaning crazy) is slightly more common in American English.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'banana' is neutral for the fruit. 'Bananas' as an adjective (crazy) is informal/slang.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects as a noun for the fruit.
Grammar
How to Use “baˈnaban” in a Sentence
eat a bananapeel a bananabuy bananasslice a bananaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “baˈnaban” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The walls were painted a banana yellow.
- He's gone completely banana sandwich! (very informal)
American English
- She loves her banana-colored dress.
- The situation is totally bananas!
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in trade contexts (banana imports, banana market).
Academic
Used in botanical, agricultural, or nutritional studies.
Everyday
Common in cooking, shopping, and casual conversation.
Technical
Specific cultivars in horticulture (Cavendish, Gros Michel).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “baˈnaban”
- Incorrect plural: 'banana' for multiple fruits (correct: bananas). Misspelling: 'bananna'. Incorrect article: 'a bananas'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Plantains are a starchy, cooking variety of banana, often larger and less sweet, typically eaten cooked rather than raw.
It is informal/slang and should be avoided in formal writing.
A derogatory term for a small country, especially in Central America, with an unstable economy dependent on a single export (like bananas) and often governed by a corrupt dictatorship.
Store at room temperature. To slow ripening, you can place them in the refrigerator; the skin will darken but the fruit inside will be preserved.
A long curved fruit with a yellow skin and soft, sweet, white flesh inside.
Baˈnaban: in British English it is pronounced /bəˈnɑː.nə/, and in American English it is pronounced /bəˈnæn.ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “go bananas”
- “top banana”
- “slip on a banana peel”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BANANA: Big And Nice, A Natural Apple-alternative.
Conceptual Metaphor
CURVATURE/SILLINESS (a banana shape; 'bananas' meaning crazy).
Practice
Quiz
What does the informal phrase 'go bananas' mean?