Word
plantain
Phoneticsplan·tain, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɫæntən/
UK/plˈɑːnteɪn/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a big fruit that looks like a banana but is less sweet. You usually cook it by frying, boiling, or baking before you eat it.
n. a large starchy fruit closely related to the banana, typically cooked by frying, boiling, or baking before eating. Green when unripe and turning yellow-black as sugars develop.
Examples
“She fries sliced plantain for dinner.”
“He buys ripe plantain at the market and fries it with rice and beans.”
“In many tropical kitchens, caramelized plantain balances spicy stews with its gentle sweetness and soft texture.”
Examples
simple
“She fries sliced plantain for dinner.”
contextual
“He buys ripe plantain at the market and fries it with rice and beans.”
complex
“In many tropical kitchens, caramelized plantain balances spicy stews with its gentle sweetness and soft texture.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “plantain” in context.
Verb
01. boil plantain
“You should boil plantain before you mash it.”
verb + noun
02. cook with plantain
“She loves to cook with plantain and coconut milk.”
verb + prep + noun
03. fry plantain
“My mother will fry plantain for us tonight.”
verb + noun
04. mash plantain
“She likes to mash plantain with butter and salt.”
verb + noun
05. peel plantain
“First, peel plantain and cut it into small pieces.”
verb + noun
06. plantain softens
“The plantain softens quickly when you cook it.”
noun + verb
Adjective
07. green plantain
“He boiled a green plantain to eat with fish.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. piece of plantain
“Try a piece of plantain; it is soft and warm.”
noun + prep + noun
09. a bunch of green plantains
“She bought a bunch of green plantains at the market.”
10. a plate of fried plantain
“He ordered a plate of fried plantain for lunch.”
11. fry the plantain until golden
“Fry the plantain until golden on both sides.”
12. peel and slice the plantain
“Peel and slice the plantain before you fry it.”
Real-World Examples
“Treated more like a vegetable than a fruit, plantains can be prepared in various ways depending on their stage of ripeness.” “Patacones are the Colombian equivalent of Caribbean tostones—double-fried green plantains.” “Dodo (no, not the bird) is a simple preparation of sweet, ripe plantains that’s well-loved across Nigeria.” “In South America plantains are often fried, but we always had them stewed or braised, in thick curries or light broths.” Etymology
Inherited from Middle English planteyne, planteyn, from Anglo-Norman plainteine et al., Old French plaintain, from Latin plantāgō, from planta (“sole of the foot”), a nasalized form of Proto-Indo-European *pleth₂- (“flat; to spread”), because of the broad, flat shape of the plantain leaves.
From Spanish plantano (obsolete variant of plátano), from Latin platanus, from Ancient Greek πλάτανος (plátanos).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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