carambola
/kaɾamˈbola/feminine
The English phrase star fruit is carambola in Spanish. Wiktionary also lists fruta de estrella and asterisa.
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| carambola | /kaɾamˈbola/ | feminine |
| fruta de estrella | /fɾuta de estɾeʝa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| asterisa | /asteɾisa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
carambola is the standard term used by Spanish speakers.
Which one should you use?
carambola is the standard and most common way to name the fruit. Although fruta de estrella is a literal translation of the English name 'star fruit', it is less common than the standard term. asterisa is another form present in the language.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, particularly in Latin America, star fruit is known informally as tamarindo chino.
How does it change in a sentence?
carambola is a feminine noun. When referring to a single fruit, use the feminine indefinite article una carambola. To form the plural, add an -s to create carambolas, such as in las carambolas.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaɾamˈbola/
Did you know?
- While carambola is the fruit, the word is also used in Spanish to describe a fluke or a lucky coincidence in a game or life.
- The term carambola describes a specific billiards shot where the cue ball strikes two other balls.
- The word carambola actually traces its roots back to Sanskrit via Malay and Portuguese, rather than coming from a Latin or Romance root.
Examples in context
- Me encanta la carambola en ensaladas de frutas.I love star fruit in fruit salads.
- Compré algunas carambolas en el mercado.I bought some star fruit at the market.
- La carambola es muy dulce.The star fruit is very sweet.
- Compré una carambola en el mercado.I bought a star fruit at the market.
- ¿Quieres probar esta carambola?Do you want to try this star fruit?
Example conversation
Mateo and María are preparing a fruit salad together.
- MateoMira, María, compré una carambola fresca.Look, María, I bought a fresh star fruit.
- María¡Qué bonita! Me gusta mucho esa fruta.How pretty! I really like that fruit.
- Mateo¿Te ayudo a pelar la carambola?Should I help you peel the star fruit?
- MaríaNo es necesario, solo corta la fruta.It is not necessary, just cut the fruit.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “star fruit” translations and entries carambola, 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 carambola, de, estrella, fruta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
