Spanish · Food & Drink
"Banana" in Spanish: plátano
el plátano
Note: also: la banana; a plantain is el plátano macho
A banana is el plátano (PLA-tah-noh) in much of Latin America. It is masculine: un plátano, los plátanos. Many speakers also say la banana; a plantain is often el plátano macho.
How to pronounce plátano: audio and sound guideAt breakfast
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How to pronounce plátano
Say it
PLA-tah-noh
/ˈpla.ta.no/
PLA-tah-noh. Stress PLA. The accent mark sits on the first a: plátano. Soft t taps, not English hard t.
"Banana" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| el plátano | banana (and sometimes plantain) Default in Mexico, Central America, and parts of the Andes. | Default in Mexico, Central America, and parts of the Andes. |
| la banana | banana Common alternative in the Southern Cone and Caribbean. | Common alternative in the Southern Cone and Caribbean. |
| el plátano macho | plantain Starchy cooking banana, fried or boiled. | Starchy cooking banana, fried or boiled. |
| el plátano maduro | ripe plantain / sweet banana Often the sweet fried plantain on Latin American plates. | Often the sweet fried plantain on Latin American plates. |
How to use plátano in real life
- 1At breakfast
Quiero un plátano con yogurt.
I want a banana with yogurt.
Un plátano is one piece of fruit.
- 2At the market
¿Cuánto cuestan los plátanos?
How much do the bananas cost?
Sold by the piece or by the bunch.
- 3Ordering a side
Para mí, el plátano frito.
For me, the fried plantain.
On savory menus plátano often means plantain.
Mistakes English speakers make with plátano
Incorrect: La plátano está maduro.
Correct: El plátano está maduro.
Plátano is masculine. Use el plátano and maduro.
Incorrect: Compré platano sin tilde en la lista.
Correct: Escribí plátano con tilde.
Write plátano with an accent on the first a. Without it, stress sounds wrong.
Good to know
Good to knowWhich word you hear depends on the country. Mexico and much of Central America lean on plátano for the everyday yellow fruit. Argentina and Uruguay often prefer banana. When a menu says plátano frito or plátano macho, expect plantain, not a sweet dessert banana.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Buying fruit for the hotel
ChatPal
Hay plátano maduro hoy.
There is ripe banana today.
You
Dame tres plátanos, por favor.
Give me three bananas, please.
ChatPal
¿Quieres el plátano para freír también?
Do you also want plantain for frying?
You
No, solo la fruta dulce.
No, just the sweet fruit.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Banana" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Banana" in Spanish
Is plátano masculine or feminine?
Masculine: el plátano, un plátano, plátanos verdes.
Is banana wrong?
No. La banana is common in some countries. These pages lead with plátano because many Latin American menus use it.
What is plátano macho?
A plantain used for cooking. It is starchier than a sweet banana.
Where is the stress in plátano?
On PLA. The written accent marks that stress: plátano.
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