How to Say "Banana" in Japanese

バナナ

banana[ba̠na̠na̠]

The Japanese word for banana is バナナ. Wiktionary also lists 甘蕉 (kanshō).

Meaning: fruit (noun)

Ways to say it

“banana” in Japanese
Japanese	Romanization (Wiktionary)	IPA	Note
バナナ	banana	[ba̠na̠na̠] (narrow)
甘蕉	kanshō		rare

The word refers to the fruit.

The kanji form 甘蕉 is extremely rare and is almost never used in daily life compared to the katakana バナナ.

The form 甘蕉 is considered rare.

As a loanword, バナナ is a noun that does not change its form for pluralization. The context determines if it is singular or plural.

The romanization is banana.

Japanese fruit parlors sometimes sell 'luxury bananas' for prices far exceeding those found in a typical supermarket, treating them as high-end gifts.
Because バナナ is a loanword, it is sometimes written in hiragana as ばなな in children's books or cute 'kawaii' branding to make the fruit seem softer and more approachable.
If you see the kanji 甘蕉 in an old botanical text, it literally translates to 'sweet plantain' or 'sweet plant'.

バナナおいしい。
This banana is delicious.
This sentence is useful for saying that the バナナ is delicious.
Tatoeba #9865429 by Sim5634, translation #9982497 by anaga27
あれは、バナナ。
That's a banana.
This sentence is useful for identifying that something is a バナナ.
Tatoeba #11193540 by small_snow, translation #6374976 by Hybrid
バナナを食べなさい！
Eat a banana!
This sentence is useful for telling someone to eat a バナナ.
Tatoeba #8764248 by small_snow, translation #8762785 by cheeseisdisgusting
バナナを食べるのは好きですか？
Do you like to eat bananas?
31 more sentences on Tatoeba

Ren and Misaki are preparing a fruit salad together.

蓮 Ren

美咲、バナナを切ってくれる？
Misaki, banana o kitte kureru?
Misaki, can you cut the banana?
美咲 Misaki

いいよ。バナナはどこにある？
Ii yo. Banana wa doko ni aru?
Sure. Where are the bananas?
蓮 Ren

テーブルの上に置いてあるよ。
Teeburu no ue ni oite aru yo.
They are on the table.
美咲 Misaki

あった！バナナ、すごく甘そうだね。
Atta! Banana, sugoku amasou da ne.
Found them! These bananas look very sweet.

Sources

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