Meaning & use
guarana
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
A South American climbing plant whose seeds contain caffeine and are used to make drinks and supplements.
Grammar: Used as a mass noun when referring to the plant or its extract; can be countable when referring to individual plants.
Patterns
- guarana seed
- guarana extract
- guarana powder
The indigenous people of the Amazon have used guarana for centuries as a stimulant.
Guarana is a key ingredient in many energy drinks because it contains caffeine.
The guarana plant climbs high into the trees of the rainforest.
nouncountable or uncountable
A soft drink or supplement made from the seeds of this plant, popular in Brazil.
Grammar: Can be countable when referring to a glass or bottle of the drink, uncountable when referring to the substance.
Patterns
- drink guarana
- a can of guarana
- guarana soda
In Brazil, guarana is a popular soda, often enjoyed with meals.
She bought a bottle of guarana to help her stay awake during the long drive.
This brand of guarana has a fruity taste and is less sweet than cola.
Word forms
| plural | guaranas |
|---|
Common combinations
- guarana seed
- Guarana seeds are roasted and ground to make powder.
- guarana extract
- The label says the drink contains guarana extract for energy.
- guarana powder
- You can add guarana powder to smoothies for a caffeine boost.
- guarana soda
- Guarana soda is a common sight in Brazilian supermarkets.
- contains guarana
- This energy drink contains guarana, taurine, and B vitamins.
- guarana supplement
- He takes a guarana supplement before his workout.
Synonyms and how they differ
- caffeine
- Caffeine is the chemical stimulant itself; guarana is a plant that contains caffeine, so they are not interchangeable.
- energy drink
- An energy drink is a beverage that often includes guarana, but guarana can also be a powder or supplement.
Word family
- guarana noun
- The plant or its product; no common derived forms.
Commonly confused: guarana or guarani? guarana or guava?
guarana vs guarani
Guarani is the currency of Paraguay and also an indigenous people; guarana is the plant. They sound similar but mean different things.
guarana vs guava
Guava is a tropical fruit; guarana is a plant used as a stimulant. They are unrelated.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'guarana' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Guarana is a plant or its extract used as a stimulant, so it fits in an energy drink. Option An is wrong because guarana is a stimulant, not a sleep aid. Option B is wrong because guarana is not a fruit. Option D is wrong because the currency is guarani, a different word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “guarana”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.