banana
HighNeutral to informal
Definition
Meaning
A long, curved fruit with a yellow skin and soft, sweet, white flesh inside.
The tropical herbaceous plant (Musa spp.) that bears this fruit; also used metaphorically for something curved in shape, or as slang for a foolish or crazy person.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a concrete noun for a fruit, but extends to the plant and has informal metaphorical uses.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and pronunciation are identical. The word 'banana' itself has no regional variants, but related phrases or idioms might differ slightly in usage.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties. The informal term 'bananas' (meaning crazy) is equally common in both BrE and AmE.
Frequency
Equally common and high-frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + banana (e.g., eat, peel, buy, slice)banana + [noun] (e.g., banana tree, banana boat)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Go bananas”
- “Top banana”
- “Second banana”
- “Slip on a banana peel”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to the global banana trade, supply chains, or 'banana republic' (economically unstable country).
Academic
In botany or agricultural studies discussing Musa species, cultivation, or genetics.
Everyday
Discussing food, shopping, recipes, or using informal idioms like 'It's driving me bananas!'
Technical
In food science (ripening processes, starch conversion) or horticulture.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The monkeys will banana if we feed them.
- (Note: 'banana' as a verb is extremely rare/non-standard)
American English
- (No standard verb use in AmE)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial use)
American English
- (No standard adverbial use)
adjective
British English
- She wore a banana-yellow dress to the party.
American English
- He ordered a banana smoothie for breakfast.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I eat one banana every morning.
- Bananas are my favourite fruit.
- Could you buy a bunch of bananas from the supermarket?
- She slipped on a banana peel and fell.
- The country's economy was once derided as a banana republic.
- This recipe calls for two mashed bananas.
- The comedian played the second banana to the lead actor for years.
- The market volatility has sent investors completely bananas.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Ba-NA-na has three parts, just like the fruit you PEEL, EAT, and THROW AWAY the skin.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRAZINESS IS BEING A BANANA (e.g., 'The situation is bananas')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'банан' (banan) which is identical. The main trap is in idioms: 'go bananas' does not translate literally to 'идти бананам'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect plural: 'banana' for multiple fruits (correct: bananas).
- Misspelling: 'bananna' (double 'n').
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'top banana' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a countable noun. You can have one banana, two bananas, etc. However, when referring to the substance (e.g., in baking), it can be treated as uncountable: 'Add some banana to the mixture.'
Bananas are typically sweet and eaten raw when ripe. Plantains are starchier, less sweet, and usually cooked before eating. They are closely related but used differently in cuisine.
It entered English via Spanish or Portuguese, ultimately from a West African language (possibly Wolof 'banaana').
In standard English, it is not used as a verb. The informal phrase 'to go bananas' uses it idiomatically. Any use as a verb (e.g., 'to banana') is non-standard or humorous.
Collections
Part of a collection
Food and Drink
A1 · 49 words · Common words for food, drink and meals.
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