Meaning & use
plantains
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“plantains” is a form of “plantain”.
Meanings
nouncountable
The starchy fruit of a tropical banana-like plant, usually cooked before eating.
Grammar: Countable; singular is 'plantain', plural 'plantains'. Often used in the plural when talking about the food in general, e.g., 'fried plantains'.
Patterns
- fried plantains
- ripe plantains
- green plantains
- a bunch of plantains
We bought some plantains at the market to make a side dish.
She fried the plantains until they were golden brown.
In many tropical countries, plantains are a staple food.
nouncountable or uncountable
A low-growing wild plant with broad leaves and small green flowers, often considered a weed.
Grammar: Can be countable (a plantain) or uncountable (the species). Often found in lawns.
Patterns
- common plantain
- plantain weed
- plantain leaf
The lawn was full of plantains and dandelions.
Plantain is often used in herbal medicine.
Word forms
| singular | plantain |
|---|
Common combinations
- fried plantains
- We ordered fried plantains as an appetizer.
- ripe plantains
- Ripe plantains are sweeter and softer than green ones.
- green plantains
- Green plantains are starchy and must be cooked.
- plantain chips
- Plantain chips are a popular snack in many countries.
- a bunch of plantains
- He carried a bunch of plantains home from the market.
Synonyms and how they differ
- banana
- A banana is usually eaten raw and is sweeter; plantains are larger, starchier, and typically cooked.
- cooking banana
- This term is sometimes used for plantains and similar varieties, but 'plantain' is the more specific and common word.
Word family
- plantain noun
- Singular form; can refer to the fruit or the wild plant.
Commonly confused: plantains or plantar?
plantains vs plantar
Plantar is an adjective relating to the sole of the foot, as in 'plantar fasciitis'. It sounds similar but is completely different in meaning.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'plantains' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 1 is correct because 'plantains' is plural and can be used with 'the' in a general sense. Option 0 is wrong because 'a' is singular and cannot be used with a plural noun. Option 2 is wrong because 'is' is singular and does not agree with plural 'plantains'. Option 3 is wrong because 'a' is singular.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “plantains”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.