What does durion mean?
Durion is a chiefly British variant spelling of 'durian', denoting either a tall tropical tree of Southeast Asia or its remarkable fruit. The tree, belonging to the genus Durio, produces large, heavy fruits encased in a formidable armour of sharp spines. Inside lies a soft, custard-like pulp whose aroma is famously divisive: often described as sweet and almond-like by admirers, and as resembling rotting onions or gym socks by detractors. This powerful smell is so intense that the fruit is banned from many hotels, airlines, and public transport systems in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Despite — or because of — this, the durion is celebrated across Southeast Asia as the 'king of fruits', commanding high prices at markets and inspiring everything from candies to pastries. In everyday English, however, the standard spelling 'durian' has almost entirely displaced 'durion', which now survives largely in older literature and dictionary entries.
nounA durion is a large tree of Southeast Asia bearing a fruit covered in sharp spines and containing a creamy, strongly odorous pulp; it is also the name of that fruit itself.
- The large tropical tree (genus Durio) native to Southeast Asia that bears spiky fruit.
- The edible but strongly odorous fruit of this tree.
"The market stall reeked of durion, its spiky husks piled high beside the mangosteens."
"The hotel lobby had a sign politely forbidding guests from bringing durion into their rooms."
"He cut open the durion's thorny shell to reveal pale yellow flesh inside."
Standard plural, formed regularly with -s.
"Several ripe durions lay stacked in crates at the wet market."
Same fruit as the infamous durian — banned on trains across Southeast Asia for a smell some compare to rotten onions, yet prized by devotees as the 'king of fruits'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of durion
The word entered English in the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century, borrowed directly from Malay dūrī, which ultimately derives from a Sanskrit term referring to thorn or spike — an apt description of the fruit's formidable exterior. English travellers and naturalists recorded several spellings as they encountered the fruit in the East Indies, and 'durion' became one of the established British forms alongside 'durian'. Over time, 'durian' prevailed as the standard spelling in both British and American usage, leaving 'durion' as a recognized but now largely historical variant.
How durion is actually used
Durion is a variant spelling of the far more common 'durian'; it appears mainly in older British texts and dictionaries, while modern usage overwhelmingly prefers 'durian'. The word refers both to the tree and to its fruit.
Easily confused with durion
Durian is the standard spelling for both the tree and its spiny, pungent fruit, whereas durion is a less common chiefly British variant of the same word.