Inga

/ˈɪŋɡə/ noun

Definition

A tropical tree native to South America, related to the acacia family, that produces long pods with edible seeds surrounded by sweet pulp.

Etymology

From Portuguese 'ingá,' which comes from a Tupi (indigenous Brazilian) word. The name was borrowed when European explorers encountered the tree in South America and adopted the local indigenous name.

Kelly Says

This word traveled from the Tupi people of Brazil to Portuguese explorers to English—it's one of those words that proves how much indigenous knowledge got absorbed into global languages during the age of exploration.

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