banana (English)

Where does "banana" come from?

The English word 'banana' was borrowed from Portuguese or Spanish 'banana'[1]. These Iberian terms derive from a Niger-Congo language spoken in the Guinea region[1][2][3]. The exact ultimate history is unclear, with possible connections or cognates in West African languages such as Wolof 'banaana', Eastern Maninkakan 'banana', and Vai 'ɓaana'[1]. Some sources also note a potential link to Arabic 'banān', meaning 'fingertip' or 'banana'[1][4], though alternative studies suggest the Wolof term may have instead been borrowed from Portuguese[1][2][3].

Open questions

• The specific Niger-Congo source and precise path of transmission for the word remain unclear. [1] [2] [3]
• Some scholars propose that the Wolof term derives from Portuguese rather than serving as the original source. [1] [2] [3]

Full etymology tree

• banana (English), 'Curved like a banana, especially of a ball in flight.'
  • borrowed banana (Portuguese), 'banana (fruit)'
    • borrowed (Niger-Congo)
  • borrowed banana (Spanish), 'banana (fruit)'
    • borrowed banana (Portuguese), 'banana (fruit)'
      • borrowed (Niger-Congo)

Ancestors

• banana (Portuguese)
• banana (Spanish)
• banaana (Wolof)

Cognates and doublets

• banana (Portuguese)
• banaana (Wolof)

Sources

1. banana (English) - Wiktionary
2. banana (Portuguese) - Wiktionary
3. banana (Spanish) - Wiktionary
4. banaana (Wolof) - Wiktionary

Updated October 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris