Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| plátano | /ˈplatano/ | Chile, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Spain, masculine |
| banana | /baˈnana/ | Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, feminine |
| banano | /baˈnano/ | Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, masculine |
| cambur | /kamˈbuɾ/ | Venezuela, masculine |
| guineo | /ɡiˈneo/ | Bolivia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Eastern, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Northern, Northwestern, Panama, Puerto Rico, Southeastern, Southern, Venezuela, masculine |
| mínimo | /ˈminimo/ | Central, Honduras, masculine |
| plátano fruta | /platano fɾuta/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| fongo | /fonɡo/ (from spelling rules) | Cuba, masculine |
Which one should you use?
banano is frequently used to refer to the banana plant or the fruit itself in Colombia, Ecuador and parts of Central America. cambur is the standard term for the sweet fruit known as a banana in Venezuela. And guineo is a common term for the sweet banana fruit in many Caribbean and Central American countries.
Is it said differently in some regions?
banana is used in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. banano is used in Central America, Colombia and Ecuador. cambur is used in Venezuela. guineo is used in Bolivia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico and Venezuela, as well as in Northern, Northwestern, Southeastern and Southern dialects. mínimo is used in Central Honduras. plátano is used in Chile, Mexico, Peru, Philippines and Spain. fongo is used in Cuba.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the word banana in Argentina, Uruguay or Paraguay, it is a feminine noun and requires feminine articles like la or una. All other listed forms are masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈplatano/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word banana likely originated from a Niger-Congo language spoken in the Guinea region and entered Spanish via Portuguese.
- The Venezuelan word for this fruit, cambur, traces its roots back to the indigenous Guanche people of the Canary Islands rather than the fruit's tropical origins.
- While most people use the word 'plátano' for the fruit, in many Spanish-speaking countries, 'plátano' actually refers to a much larger, starchy variety that must be cooked, similar to a plantain.
Examples in context
- Me comí un plátano.I ate a banana.This sentence shows how to use plátano in the past tense.Tatoeba #10124663 by manufrutos, translation #5263418 by CK
- Me como un plátano.I eat a banana.This sentence shows how to use plátano in the present tense.Tatoeba #10178543 by Seael, translation #1143111 by AlanF_US
- Me comí tu plátano.I ate your banana.This sentence shows how to use plátano with a possessive pronoun.Tatoeba #10284298 by manufrutos, translation #10282381 by ddnktr
- Me gustaría comprar un banano, por favorI would like to buy a banana, please
- El banano es una fruta muy nutritivaThe banana is a very nutritious fruit
- Voy a comer una banana de postreI'm going to eat a banana for dessert
- ¿Me pasás una banana, por favor?Could you pass me a banana, please?
- 43 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are at a grocery store.
- Elena¿Compramos un plátano para el postre?Shall we buy a banana for dessert?
- MateoSí, pero necesito comprar un plátano más.Yes, but I need to buy one more banana.
- ElenaMateo, ¿ese plátano está maduro?Mateo, is that banana ripe?
- MateoNo, el plátano parece un poco verde.No, the banana looks a bit green.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “banana” translations and entries plátano, banana, banano, cambur, guineo, mínimo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries banana, banano, cambur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
