What does mango mean?
A mango is the fruit of a tropical evergreen tree native to South Asia. Its flesh is generally sweet and juicy, with colours ranging from green and yellow to orange-red, and it usually contains one broad, flattened seed. Fresh mango is eaten in slices or chunks, while the fruit is also widely used to make juices, preserves, chutneys, ice creams, and desserts. The term can refer to the fruit itself, the tree that bears it, or a flavour derived from the fruit. Mango is important in the cuisine of South and Southeast Asia but is now common throughout the world. Both “mangoes” and “mangos” are standard plurals, with “mangoes” generally preferred in modern usage. The word reached English through Portuguese traders and is ultimately derived from a Dravidian word for the fruit.
nounA tropical fruit with a sweet, juicy flesh, typically yellow or orange and containing a single large, flat seed. The word can also refer to the evergreen tree that produces this fruit.
- The edible fruit of the mango tree.
- The evergreen tree that produces mangoes, native to South Asia.
- Mango used as a food flavour, especially in desserts, chutneys, and beverages.
"She served slices of ripe mango with lime juice and fresh coriander."
"A bowl of mango and pineapple made an especially refreshing salad."
"The orchard contained rows of mango trees planted before the house was built."
“Mangoes” is the standard plural; “mangos” is also accepted, particularly in British English.
"The market sold mangoes, papayas, and other tropical fruit."
The English word mango comes from Portuguese, which borrowed it from the Malayalam language of southwestern India.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of mango
The English mango came through Portuguese manga, a word borrowed from Malayalam māṅka in southern India. The Malayalam term belongs to the Dravidian language family and has relatives in languages such as Tamil and Telugu, although its deeper reconstruction is uncertain. Portuguese traders carried the name to Europe, and it entered English during the early modern period before spreading with the fruit through colonial and international trade.
Related word forms
How mango is actually used
The fruit is the dominant modern sense. “Mangoes” is the usual plural, although “mangos” is also accepted, especially in British English. As a flavour or ingredient, “mango” is normally used as a mass noun.