mamão
/maˈmɐ̃w̃/masculine
The Portuguese word for pawpaw is mamão.
mamão is a masculine noun used to refer to the pawpaw fruit.
Meaning: fruit (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈmɐ̃w̃/
When do people say it?
If you want to describe the fruit as being ripe, you can use the phrase no ponto.
Did you know?
- In some Portuguese-speaking contexts, using the word mamão can be a slang way to describe something that is very easy or 'a piece of cake'.
- The suffix '-ão' in mamão is often used in Portuguese to create augmentatives, meaning it literally translates to a 'large breast'.
- The word shares a linguistic ancestor with the English word 'mammal', as both trace back to the idea of nursing.
Examples in context
- A senhora tem papaia fresca?Do you have fresh pawpaw, ma'am?
- Vamos comprar mamão para a sobremesa.Let's buy pawpaw for dessert.
- O mamão está muito maduro.The papaya is very ripe.
- Eu gosto de comer mamão no café da manhã.I like to eat papaya for breakfast.
Example conversation
A couple is eating breakfast in their kitchen.
- RodrigoJuliana, você quer um pouco de mamão?Juliana, do you want some papaya?
- JulianaSim, por favor, Rodrigo.Yes, please, Rodrigo.
- RodrigoEste mamão está muito doce.This papaya is very sweet.
- JulianaRealmente, está uma delícia.Really, it is delicious.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pawpaw” translations and entries mamão, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
