guava

IPA/ˈɡwɑːvə/
KK[ɡwˈɑvə]IPA/ˈɡwɑːvə/

guava — noun

  • guavasingular
  • guavasplural

1. a sweet fruit that grows in hot countries, with green or yellow skin and soft pi

1.nounB1
Definition

a sweet fruit that grows in hot countries, with green or yellow skin and soft pink or white flesh that contains many small hard seeds; also the tree that produces this fruit

Example

My aunt brought back a basket of fresh guavas from her trip to Hawaii.

The children picked ripe guavas from the tree in their grandmother's garden.

collocation: ripe guavas

Common collocations
  • ripe guava
  • fresh guava
  • green guava
  • guava tree
  • guava juice
  • guava jelly
  • guava paste

Grammar Patterns

countable: a guava / two guavas

uncountable: guava (as a substance or flavour)

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Guava, papaya, and mango are all tropical fruits with sweet flesh, but they differ in texture, colour, and typical uses. Guava has a unique fragrant scent, with green or yellow skin and pink or white flesh dotted with many small hard seeds — it is often eaten fresh or made into juice, jelly, or paste. Papaya has orange flesh with a soft, buttery texture and a central cavity filled with black seeds; it is commonly eaten at breakfast or blended into smoothies. Mango has a large flat stone in the centre, with smooth, juicy orange-yellow flesh and a rich sweetness; it is widely used in desserts, curries, and chutneys. All three can be found in tropical regions worldwide, but each brings a different flavour and texture to the table.

Common collocations

Nouns

  • guava tree
  • guava fruit
  • guava juice
  • guava jelly
  • guava paste
  • guava leaf

Phrases

  • ripe guava
  • fresh guava
  • green guava
  • sweet guava

Prepositions

  • of guava
  • with guava

Etymology

Arawak (Taíno)SpanishEnglish

The word 'guava' comes from the Spanish 'guayaba', which was borrowed from an Arawak language spoken by the Taíno people of the Caribbean. Spanish explorers encountered the fruit in the Americas and brought it to Europe and other tropical regions. The English form of the word appeared in the 16th century as European trade routes expanded.