mango
MANG-goh
Mango (noun) means a tropical tree, or its sweet, juicy orange-fleshed fruit. Example: “She sliced a ripe mango for the fruit salad.”
noun
1
A tropical tree, or its sweet, juicy orange-fleshed fruit.
"On the hot days, he would lie in the shade of a mango and let little Eugenia clamber over his belly and tug at his beard."
— Bruce Chatwin, The Viceroy of Ouidah (1980)
"She sliced a ripe mango for the fruit salad."
"Mango trees can grow for decades and produce fruit every year."
How to use mango
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tropical fruit with sweet orange flesh, or the tree it grows on.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
ripe mango
mango juice
mango chutney
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Word forms
- Plural
- mangoes, mangos
- Third person singular
- mangoes
- Past tense
- mangoed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She sliced a ripe _____ for the fruit salad.
Etymology
Borrowed via Portuguese manga from a South Indian word combining terms for "mango tree" and "unripe fruit." First recorded in English for the fruit in the 1580s.
Class of 1580
mango joined the language around 1580.
See the full Class of 1580 →
Synonyms
View more →
stone fruit
Related words
Rhymes for mango
See all rhymes for mango →Frequently asked questions
What does “mango” mean?
The word “mango” means a tropical tree, or its sweet, juicy orange-fleshed fruit. In plain terms, a tropical fruit with sweet orange flesh, or the tree it grows on.
How do you pronounce “mango”?
“Mango” is pronounced MANG-goh (/ˈmæŋɡəʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “mango” in a sentence?
Here is “mango” used in a sentence: “She sliced a ripe mango for the fruit salad.”
What part of speech is “mango”?
“Mango” is a noun.
Where does the word “mango” come from?
The word “mango” dates back to around 1580 and comes from Portuguese. Borrowed via Portuguese manga from a South Indian word combining terms for "mango tree" and "unripe fruit." First recorded in English for the fruit in the 1580s.
Is “mango” a common word?
“Mango” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
Is a mango a fruit or a vegetable?
A mango is a fruit, specifically the sweet, juicy orange-fleshed fruit of a tropical mango tree. It is classified as a fruit because it develops from the flowering part of the plant and contains a seed.
What does mango taste like?
Mango has a sweet, juicy flavor often described as tropical, with notes that can range from honey-like sweetness to a slight tang depending on ripeness and variety. Its orange flesh is soft and smooth when ripe.
Where do mangoes grow?
Mangoes grow on tropical trees, which thrive in warm climates found throughout tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The tree produces the fruit that is widely eaten fresh or used in cooking.
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