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 |
The term refers to the edible fruit of the banana plant.
Which one should you use?
The specific word used for this fruit varies significantly depending on the country and region. While plátano is a common term, other words like guineo, banano or cambur are used in specific locations.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word for banana is highly regional: 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. mínimo is used in central Honduras. plátano is used in Chile, Mexico, Peru, Philippines and Spain. And fongo is used in Cuba.
How does it change in a sentence?
banana is a feminine noun, while banano, cambur, guineo, mínimo, plátano and fongo are masculine nouns. The phrase plátano fruta is also masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈplatano/
Did you know?
- The Venezuelan word cambur actually has roots in the Guanche language of the Canary Islands rather than from the fruit's native regions in Africa or Asia.
- The word plátano is used in the Philippines, a former colony of Spain, showing the lasting linguistic influence of the Spanish Empire in Asia.
- While most people use 'banana' to mean the sweet fruit, in many Spanish-speaking countries, the word plátano refers specifically to the larger, starchy variety that must be cooked, much like a plantain.
Examples in context
- Me comí un plátano.I ate a banana.This sentence is useful for expressing that you ate a plátano.Tatoeba #10124663 by manufrutos, translation #5263418 by CK
- Me como un plátano.I eat a banana.This sentence is useful for expressing that you eat a plátano.Tatoeba #10178543 by Seael, translation #1143111 by AlanF_US
- Me comí tu plátano.I ate your banana.This sentence is useful for expressing that you ate someone's plátano.Tatoeba #10284298 by manufrutos, translation #10282381 by ddnktr
- ¿Podría darme una banana, por favor?May I have a banana, please?
- Me encantan las bananas, son deliciosas.I love bananas, they are delicious.
- 43 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are shopping for fruit at a market.
- MaríaNecesitamos comprar un plátano.We need to buy a banana.
- Alejandro¿Quieres un plátano maduro, Mateo?Do you want a ripe banana, Mateo?
- MaríaSí, ese plátano se ve muy bueno.Yes, that banana looks very good.
- AlejandroPerfecto, lo pondré en la bolsa.Perfect, I will put it in the bag.
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.
