guava

Where does the word "guava" come from? It comes from Arawakan/Taíno guayaba, passing through Spanish before entering English (1500s-1600s).

Guava’s story begins in Arawakan/Taíno: guayaba meant “guava fruit.” The native name for the fruit. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as guayaba. Adopted after contact with the Caribbean. It reached English by 1500s-1600s as guava. Adapted from the Spanish form. Today, guava means a round tropical fruit with pink or white flesh and edible seeds.

1. Stage 1 · Arawakan/Taíno · pre-1500s guayaba "guava fruit", the native name for the fruit.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1500s guayaba "guava fruit", adopted after contact with the Caribbean.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s-1600s guava "the tropical guava fruit", adapted from the Spanish form.