guineo
Puerto Rico, Central America
Banana has several regional names. People say guineo in Puerto Rico and Central America, cambur in Venezuela and plátano in Spain and Mexico. It is also called banana.
Meaning: banana, regional words (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| guineo | Puerto Rico, Central America |
| cambur | Venezuela |
| plátano | Spain, Mexico |
| banana | Argentina, neutral |
In Argentina and Uruguay the usual word is banana. Where plátano means banana, the cooking kind is often plátano macho.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The names are regional words rather than slang. In Puerto Rico plátano means plantain, so a banana there is guineo.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Asking for plátanos in a Caribbean market may get you plantains instead of sweet bananas.
Did you know?
- The word cambur is mostly known in Venezuela, where plátano refers to the larger cooking fruit.
Examples in context
- Me comí un guineo de desayuno.I ate a banana for breakfast.
- El cambur está maduro.The banana is ripe.
- Compra un plátano para la merienda.Buy a banana for the snack.
Example conversation
Elisa and her brother Tomás pack lunches in Caracas.
- ElisaTomás, ¿quieres un cambur?Tomás, do you want a banana?
- TomásSí, y un jugo.Yes, and a juice.
- ElisaToma, y no te lo comas todavía.Here, and do not eat it yet.
