noun

mangosteen

MANG-guh-steen

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Mangosteen (noun) means a tropical fruit from the tree Garcinia mangostana, with a thick purple rind and soft white segments inside. Example: “She sliced open the mangosteen to reveal its sweet white segments.”

noun

A tropical fruit from the tree Garcinia mangostana, with a thick purple rind and soft white segments inside.

"She sliced open the mangosteen to reveal its sweet white segments."

"Mangosteens are sold at the market alongside other tropical fruit."

"He'd never tried a mangosteen before his trip to Southeast Asia."

The tropical tree that produces this fruit.

"The old mangosteen in the garden had grown taller than the house."

"They planted a young mangosteen near the fence."

How to use mangosteen

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA mangosteen is a purple tropical fruit with sweet white segments inside, or the tree it grows on.

When to use it

Mangosteen is a neutral, everyday word used mainly when talking about tropical fruit.

Memory tip

Despite how it sounds, mangosteen has no real connection to the mango, so don't assume the two fruits are related.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

mango →

Common pairings

ripe mangosteen mangosteen rind fresh mangosteen mangosteen tree

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “mangosteen” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She sliced open the _____ to reveal its sweet white segments.

Etymology

Mangosteen came into English from Dutch, which had taken it from Malay, where it traces back to a term meaning roughly jungle manggis, a name also applied to some related fruit trees. Despite the similar spelling, the word is not actually related to mango, though that resemblance may have shaped how mangosteen came to be spelled and said.

Origin: Malay (via Dutch)

Rhymes for mangosteen

een been seen teen keen deen green queen sheen Steen tween Breen

See all rhymes for mangosteen →

Frequently asked questions

What is a mangosteen?

It is a tropical fruit with a thick purple rind and sweet white flesh inside, grown on the tree Garcinia mangostana.

Is mangosteen related to mango?

No, despite the similar name the words are not related; the resemblance is thought to have influenced how mangosteen is spelled and pronounced.

Where do mangosteens come from?

The name and the fruit trace back to Southeast Asia, entering English by way of Malay and Dutch.

What is the meaning of mangosteen?

"mangosteen" (noun) means a tropical fruit from the tree Garcinia mangostana, with a thick purple rind and soft white segments inside.