Abacaxi

/ˌɑːbəkəˈʃiː/ noun

Definition

The pineapple fruit or plant, in Portuguese-influenced English or Brazilian Portuguese usage.

Etymology

From Portuguese 'abacaxi' (Brazilian Portuguese) or 'ananás,' both derived ultimately from Tupi (indigenous South American language) 'nanas' meaning 'excellent fruit.' The Portuguese term spread through Brazil and Portuguese colonial territories.

Kelly Says

The word 'pineapple' is actually a European invention (because they thought it looked like a pinecone), but indigenous South Americans had called it 'nanas' for millennia—'abacaxi' preserves that original Tupi heritage in modern Portuguese!

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