guineo
everyday, Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico a banana is a guineo. The word plátano means plantain, a starchy cooking fruit. It is also called banana.
Meaning: sweet yellow fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| guineo | everyday, Puerto Rico |
| banana | also heard |
Which one should you use?
Ripe sweet bananas are guineos, while green or ripe plantains are plátanos. Mixing them up changes what you get on your plate.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and Spain people often say plátano for the sweet banana. In Puerto Rico guineo is the word to use at the store.
Did you know?
- A bunch of bananas is called una mano de guineos, literally "a hand of bananas".
Examples in context
- Quiero un guineo maduro.I want a ripe banana.
- Compré guineos en el supermercado.I bought bananas at the supermarket.
- Los plátanos se fríen.Plantains are fried.
Example conversation
Carmen asks the grocer Don Pepe for fruit in Mayagüez.
- CarmenDon Pepe, ¿tiene guineos?Don Pepe, do you have bananas?
- Don PepeSí, estos están maduros.Yes, these are ripe.
- CarmenDeme una mano de guineos.Give me a bunch of bananas.
