Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| banane plantain | /ba.nan plɑ̃.tɛ̃/ | feminine |
| plantain | /plɑ̃.tɛ̃/ | Africa, feminine |
| banane farine | feminine | |
| banane cochon | feminine | |
| banane à cuire | feminine |
The term refers to the fruit known as a plantain. While banane plantain is the standard name, the descriptive phrase banane à cuire is used to explicitly distinguish plantains from dessert bananas by emphasizing they are meant for cooking.
Which one should you use?
While banane plantain is the standard term, banane à cuire is often used in culinary contexts to ensure the consumer does not mistake it for a sweet dessert banana.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain French-speaking African regions, the colloquialism banane cochon is used. Additionally, the term banane farine is used in some French-speaking African contexts, likely due to their starchy, flour-like texture when cooked.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun phrase is feminine. For example, when saying a plantain banana, you use the indefinite article une in une banane plantain and the adjective plantain remains unchanged in gender.
Did you know?
- The word banane is a linguistic traveler that traces its roots back to Niger-Congo languages via Portuguese.
- The word plantain in French refers to both this fruit and a type of leafy medicinal herb, despite them being entirely different plants.
Examples in context
- Je voudrais acheter des bananes plantain, s'il vous plaît.I would like to buy some plantains, please.
- J'adore les frites de plantain. Où puis-je en trouver?I love fried plantains. Where can I find some?
- J'adore manger de la banane plantain.I love eating plantain.
- Il faut couper la banane plantain en rondelles.You have to cut the plantain into slices.
- Est-ce qu'il reste de la banane plantain ?Is there any plantain left?
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are cooking a traditional dish in the kitchen.
- ChloéNathan, est-ce que tu as acheté de la banane plantain ?Nathan, did you buy some plantain?
- NathanOui, elle est dans le sac de courses.Yes, it is in the grocery bag.
- ChloéParfait, je vais préparer la banane plantain pour le dîner.Perfect, I am going to prepare the plantain for dinner.
- NathanC'est une excellente idée, Chloé.That is an excellent idea, Chloé.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “plantain” translations and entries banane plantain, plantain, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries banane, cochon, farine, plantain, CC BY-SA 4.0.
