plantain: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral
Quick answer
What does “plantain” mean?
A type of banana, larger and starchier than a dessert banana, typically cooked before eating.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of banana, larger and starchier than a dessert banana, typically cooked before eating.
A low-growing, broad-leaved weed (Plantago major) commonly found in lawns and disturbed soil. The term can also refer to the cooking banana's tree.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the US, 'plantain' more frequently refers to the cooking banana. In the UK, the weed 'plantain' is also a common referent. The fruit may be specified as 'cooking plantain' or 'green plantain' in the UK for clarity.
Connotations
In Caribbean and West African communities in both regions, the banana 'plantain' has strong cultural and culinary associations.
Frequency
Frequency of the 'cooking banana' sense is higher in the US due to Latin American and Caribbean culinary influence. The 'weed' sense is equally common in gardening contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “plantain” in a Sentence
grow plantainsfry the plantainpeel a plantainthe plantain is used forVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in import/export, agriculture, and food retail sectors concerning tropical produce.
Academic
Used in botany, horticulture, agricultural science, and culinary anthropology.
Everyday
Common in cooking instructions, grocery shopping, and gardening conversations.
Technical
Specific botanical names distinguish the two plants: Musa × paradisiaca (fruit) and Plantago major (weed).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “plantain”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “plantain”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “plantain”
- Using 'plantain' to refer to a sweet, yellow dessert banana.
- Assuming the two types of plantain are related.
- Mispronouncing as /pleɪnˈteɪn/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Plantains are starchier, less sweet, and almost always cooked before eating, whereas bananas (dessert bananas) are sweeter and typically eaten raw.
It is not recommended. When green, they are very starchy and hard. When fully ripe (black skin), they are softer and sweeter but are still usually cooked for optimal flavour and texture.
No, they are botanically unrelated. The cooking plantain is a large herb in the Musa genus (related to bananas). The weed plantain is a small flowering plant in the Plantago genus.
Context is key. Culinary, tropical, or shopping contexts almost always mean the starchy fruit. Gardening, lawn care, or herbal medicine contexts usually refer to the broadleaf weed.
A type of banana, larger and starchier than a dessert banana, typically cooked before eating.
Plantain is usually neutral in register.
Plantain: in British English it is pronounced /ˈplæn.tɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈplæn.tɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to 'plantain'”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A PLAINtain is a PLAIN banana (not sweet) that needs cooking. Or, the weed is a PLAIN plant that's a pain in the lawn.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLANTAIN IS A VERSATILE STARCH (for the fruit); PLANTAIN IS A RESILIENT NUISANCE (for the weed).
Practice
Quiz
In a British gardening magazine, the word 'plantain' most likely refers to: