granadilla: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Botanical
Quick answer
What does “granadilla” mean?
A type of edible passion fruit.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of edible passion fruit; specifically, a tropical vine of the genus *Passiflora* bearing fruit with a hard rind and juicy pulp.
Also refers to the large, sweet, egg-shaped fruit of this vine. Sometimes used colloquially to refer to other passion fruit species.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant dialectal difference in meaning. The term is equally rare in both varieties, used mainly in specialist contexts.
Connotations
Evokes tropical/exotic fruit, specialist gardening, or gourmet food contexts.
Frequency
Very low frequency in everyday speech for both varieties. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British English due to historical colonial connections to the Caribbean and Africa where it is grown.
Grammar
How to Use “granadilla” in a Sentence
to eat a granadillato grow granadillasthe taste of granadillaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “granadilla” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The granadilla flavour was intense.
- A granadilla-based cocktail.
American English
- The granadilla flavor was intense.
- A granadilla based cocktail.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in import/export of exotic fruits, gourmet food industry.
Academic
Used in botany, horticulture, agricultural studies.
Everyday
Very rare; might be used in cooking blogs, exotic food discussions, or by gardeners.
Technical
Precise botanical identification of *Passiflora* species.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “granadilla”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “granadilla”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “granadilla”
- Misspelling as 'grenadilla' (confusion with 'grenade'), incorrect plural 'granadillas' (accepted) vs. treating as uncountable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a specific type of passion fruit (*Passiflora ligularis*), often called 'sweet granadilla'. The term is sometimes used more loosely for other passion fruits.
Yes, the pulp and seeds inside the hard rind are typically eaten raw, scooped out with a spoon.
It is native to the Andes region but is cultivated in tropical highlands worldwide, including parts of Africa, Australia, and Hawaii.
It is sweeter and less acidic than the common purple passion fruit, with a fragrant, floral, and guava-like taste.
A type of edible passion fruit.
Granadilla is usually formal/botanical in register.
Granadilla: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡranəˈdɪlə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡrɑːnəˈdiː(j)ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GRANAda (pomegranate) but it's a DILLA (sounds like 'vanilla') – a sweet, seedy fruit like a pomegranate but with a tropical, vanilla-like fragrance.
Conceptual Metaphor
LUXURY AS EXOTIC FRUIT ('the granadilla of the fruit world').
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'granadilla' most accurately described as?