sultana: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral, with culinary and historical registers.
Quick answer
What does “sultana” mean?
A seedless raisin, especially a pale yellow or greenish one, used in baking and cooking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A seedless raisin, especially a pale yellow or greenish one, used in baking and cooking.
Historically, the wife, mother, daughter, or concubine of a sultan; a female ruler or noblewoman in certain Islamic societies.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'sultana' is the standard term for the pale seedless raisin. In the US, 'sultana' is less common, with 'golden raisins' or simply 'raisins' often used.
Connotations
UK: Neutral, common baking ingredient. US: Slightly more specific or 'British-sounding' culinary term.
Frequency
Much more frequent in UK English, especially in everyday cooking contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sultana” in a Sentence
[N of N] a cup of sultanas[V N] She added sultanas.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the food industry and commodity trading (e.g., 'sultana prices rose').
Academic
In historical texts referring to the Ottoman Empire or similar polities.
Everyday
Common in recipes, shopping lists, and casual conversation about food (UK).
Technical
In viticulture/agriculture to denote a specific cultivar of grape ('Sultana grape', also known as Thompson Seedless).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sultana”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sultana”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sultana”
- Confusing sultanas with currants (which are smaller and darker).
- Using 'sultana' to mean a small sultan (incorrect).
- Pronouncing it /sʊlˈteɪnə/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are different varieties. Sultanas are made from seedless green grapes, are lighter in colour, and are often plumper and sweeter than raisins, which are made from darker grapes.
Yes, in most baking they are interchangeable, though sultanas may cook faster and provide a milder, sweeter flavour.
For the dried fruit, it is a standard, neutral term, especially in UK English. The historical meaning is formal/academic.
The dried fruit meaning originates from the 'Sultana' grape, named for its cultivation in the Ottoman Empire, linking it to the original meaning of a sultan's relative.
A seedless raisin, especially a pale yellow or greenish one, used in baking and cooking.
Sultana: in British English it is pronounced /sʌlˈtɑːnə/, and in American English it is pronounced /sʌlˈtænə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A SULtANA is a SUN-tanned grape, but golden.
Conceptual Metaphor
SWEETNESS IS PLEASURE (the sultana adds sweetness/pleasure to food).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common meaning of 'sultana' in contemporary British English?