Plantain: meaning, definitions and examples

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plantain

[ˈplanteɪn ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

food

A starchy banana-like fruit that is commonly used in cooking, especially in Caribbean and African cuisine. Plantains can be fried, boiled, or baked and are often served as a side dish.

Synonyms

cooking banana, green banana.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
plantain	Use 'plantain' when referring to the larger, starchy variety of banana that is typically cooked before eating. Commonly used in many Latin American, Caribbean, and African cuisines. I made a delicious tostones dish with fried plantains. Plantains are great for making savory dishes like mofongo.
cooking banana	Used mostly in regions where the differentiation between plantains and sweet bananas isn't commonly known. It emphasizes the fact that this type of banana is best suited for cooking rather than eating raw. For the recipe, you'll need some cooking bananas to make the stew. Cooking bananas are firmer and less sweet than the bananas you eat raw.
green banana	This refers to a banana that is not yet ripe and therefore less sweet. Typically used in a different culinary context for both regular bananas and plantains when they are still green and firm. Boiled green bananas are a traditional dish in some cultures. Green bananas can be sliced thin and fried for a crunchy snack.

Word

Description / Examples

plantain

Use 'plantain' when referring to the larger, starchy variety of banana that is typically cooked before eating. Commonly used in many Latin American, Caribbean, and African cuisines.

I made a delicious tostones dish with fried plantains.
Plantains are great for making savory dishes like mofongo.

cooking banana

Used mostly in regions where the differentiation between plantains and sweet bananas isn't commonly known. It emphasizes the fact that this type of banana is best suited for cooking rather than eating raw.

For the recipe, you'll need some cooking bananas to make the stew.
Cooking bananas are firmer and less sweet than the bananas you eat raw.

green banana

This refers to a banana that is not yet ripe and therefore less sweet. Typically used in a different culinary context for both regular bananas and plantains when they are still green and firm.

Boiled green bananas are a traditional dish in some cultures.
Green bananas can be sliced thin and fried for a crunchy snack.

Examples of usage

I love eating fried plantains with my meals.
Plantains are a staple food in many tropical regions.
Plantains can be green or ripe, with each stage offering different culinary possibilities.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

botany

A large, tropical plant with broad leaves that are often used for medicinal purposes. The plantain plant belongs to the genus Musa.

Synonyms

Musa, plantain plant.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
plantain	Commonly used in culinary contexts, particularly referring to a starchy fruit similar to a banana that is often cooked before eating. It is popular in Caribbean, African, and Latin American cuisines. I made fried plantains for dinner last night. Plantains are a staple food in many tropical countries.
Musa	More formal or scientific term, generally used in botanical or agricultural contexts to refer to the genus of plants that includes bananas and plantains. The Musa genus includes several species of bananas and plantains. Researchers are studying Musa plants to improve crop yields.
plantain plant	Typically used to refer to the actual plant that produces the fruit, rather than the fruit itself. It can be used in gardening, botany, or agricultural contexts. The plantain plant can grow quite tall if given the right conditions. They have a few plantain plants growing in their backyard.

Word

Description / Examples

plantain

Commonly used in culinary contexts, particularly referring to a starchy fruit similar to a banana that is often cooked before eating. It is popular in Caribbean, African, and Latin American cuisines.

I made fried plantains for dinner last night.
Plantains are a staple food in many tropical countries.

Musa

More formal or scientific term, generally used in botanical or agricultural contexts to refer to the genus of plants that includes bananas and plantains.

The Musa genus includes several species of bananas and plantains.
Researchers are studying Musa plants to improve crop yields.

plantain plant

Typically used to refer to the actual plant that produces the fruit, rather than the fruit itself. It can be used in gardening, botany, or agricultural contexts.

The plantain plant can grow quite tall if given the right conditions.
They have a few plantain plants growing in their backyard.

Examples of usage

Plantain leaves are believed to have healing properties.
In some cultures, plantains are used to treat insect bites and minor injuries.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'plantain' comes from the Latin 'plantago,' which means 'plant' or 'to plant.'
In many languages, the word for plantain is closely related to its banana counterpart, highlighting their similarities.

Culinary Uses

Plantains are a staple food in many Caribbean and Latin American countries, often served as a side dish.
They can be fried, boiled, or baked, and are a key ingredient in dishes like tostones and mofongo.
Green plantains are starchy and used in savory dishes, while ripe plantains are sweeter and often used in desserts.

Cultural Significance

In parts of Africa, plantains are a primary food source and are often served with stews and sauces.
The festival of plantain is celebrated in some regions, highlighting its importance in local cuisine.

Nutritional Facts

Plantains are high in carbohydrates and provide a good source of energy.
They are rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, and dietary fiber, making them a healthy addition to meals.

Botanical Classification

Plantains belong to the same family as bananas (Musaceae) but are distinguished by their starchier texture.
Like bananas, plantains are produced in clusters and grow in tropical climates.

Translations

Translations of the word "plantain" in other languages:

🇵🇹 banana-da-terra

🇮🇳 केला

🇩🇪 Kochbanane

🇮🇩 pisang tanduk

🇺🇦 плантан

🇵🇱 banan plantan

🇯🇵 プランテン

🇫🇷 banane plantain

🇪🇸 plátano macho

🇹🇷 muz plantanı

🇰🇷 플랜테인

🇸🇦 موز الجنة

🇨🇿 banán plantain

🇸🇰 banán plantain

🇨🇳 大蕉

🇸🇮 plantain

🇮🇸 plantain banani

🇰🇿 плантан банан

🇬🇪 პლანტანი

🇦🇿 plantan bananı

🇲🇽 plátano macho

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,603, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

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24600 expressway
24601 fella
24602 suppliant
24603 plantain
24604 disheartening
24605 loyalist
24606 recto
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