avocado

Where does the word "avocado" come from? It comes from Nahuatl āhuacatl, passing through Spanish before entering English (c. 1690s).

Avocado’s story begins in Nahuatl: āhuacatl meant “avocado.” Also the Nahuatl word for "testicle", from the fruit's shape. By c. 1600s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as aguacate. Adapted to fit Spanish pronunciation after the conquest of Mexico. It reached English by c. 1690s as avocado. Reshaped in English by folk association with Spanish "abogado" (lawyer). Today, avocado means a green pear-shaped fruit with rich, creamy flesh.

1. Stage 1 · Nahuatl · pre-1500s āhuacatl "avocado", also the Nahuatl word for "testicle", from the fruit's shape.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · c. 1600s aguacate "avocado", adapted to fit Spanish pronunciation after the conquest of Mexico.
3. Stage 3 · English · c. 1690s avocado "the avocado fruit", reshaped in English by folk association with Spanish "abogado" (lawyer).