Fruit names in English
Learn almost 30 fruit names in English, grouped into tropical, citrus and yellow fruits, with simple meanings, example sentences and picture charts.
In this lesson
Fruit names in English range from everyday words such as banana, mango and orange to less common ones such as kumquat and yuzu. This lesson groups almost 30 fruits into tropical fruits, citrus fruits and yellow fruits, with simple meanings, example sentences and picture charts.
Key point
Learn fruit names in groups, such as tropical or citrus fruits. Individual fruits are countable (a mango, two mangoes), but fruit as a general word is usually uncountable: I eat a lot of fruit.
What are the main types of fruit?
We have divided the list into three groups to make it easier to study:
- Tropical fruits: fruits that grow in hot, wet countries.
- Citrus fruits: juicy fruits with thick skin and a sour or sweet taste.
- Yellow fruits: fruits with yellow skin or yellow flesh.
Some fruits, such as lemons, oranges, bananas and mangoes, appear in more than one group.
Tropical fruits
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| amla | A small, round, green fruit with a sour taste, also called Indian gooseberry. | Amla juice is very sour. |
| avocado | A fruit with green skin, a large seed and soft, creamy flesh. | I spread avocado on my toast. |
| banana | A long, curved fruit with yellow skin. | I eat a banana for breakfast. |
| dragon fruit | A bright pink fruit with white or red flesh and tiny black seeds. | Dragon fruit looks colourful and tastes mild. |
| durian | A large, spiky fruit with a very strong smell. | Durian has a strong smell but a sweet taste. |
| grape | A small, round green or purple fruit that grows in bunches. | I bought a bunch of grapes. |
| guava | A round fruit with green skin and pink or white flesh. | Guava is rich in vitamin C. |
| jackfruit | A very large fruit with green, bumpy skin and yellow flesh. | Jackfruit is the largest fruit that grows on a tree. |
| kiwi | A small fruit with brown, hairy skin and green flesh. | Cut the kiwi in half and eat it with a spoon. |
| lemon | A sour, yellow citrus fruit. | Add some lemon juice to the salad. |
| mango | A sweet tropical fruit with yellow or orange flesh. | We eat mangoes in April. |
| orange | A round, juicy citrus fruit with orange skin. | I drink a glass of orange juice every morning. |
| papaya | A long fruit with orange flesh and black seeds. | Papaya is a healthy breakfast fruit. |
| pineapple | A large fruit with rough skin, spiky leaves and sweet yellow flesh. | Pineapple tastes sweet and a little sour. |
| tamarind | A brown pod with sour, sticky flesh, used in cooking. | Tamarind gives the curry a sour taste. |
| watermelon | A large, green fruit with juicy red flesh and black seeds. | Watermelon is perfect on a hot day. |
Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits are juicy fruits with a thick skin. They are a good source of vitamin C.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| kumquat | A very small orange citrus fruit that you can eat with its skin. | You can eat a kumquat whole, skin and all. |
| lemon | A sour, yellow citrus fruit. | Lemons are full of vitamin C. |
| lime | A small, green, sour citrus fruit. | Squeeze some lime over the fish. |
| mandarin | A small, sweet orange that is easy to peel. | Mandarins are easy to peel. |
| orange | A round, juicy citrus fruit with orange skin. | Oranges grow on trees in warm countries. |
| tangelo | A juicy citrus fruit that is a cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit. | A tangelo is sweet and very juicy. |
| tangerine | A small, sweet citrus fruit like a mandarin, with deep orange skin. | She packed a tangerine in her lunch box. |
| ugli fruit | A large citrus fruit from Jamaica with rough, greenish-yellow skin. | Ugli fruit looks ugly, but it tastes sweet. |
| yuzu | A small, sour citrus fruit used in Japanese and Korean cooking. | Yuzu juice is used in some Japanese sauces. |
Yellow fruits
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| apricot | A small, soft, orange-yellow fruit with a stone inside. | Dried apricots are a healthy snack. |
| banana | A long, curved fruit with yellow skin. | Ripe bananas have yellow skin. |
| durian | A large, spiky fruit with a very strong smell. | Durian flesh is soft and yellow. |
| golden kiwi | A kiwi fruit with smooth skin and sweet yellow flesh. | Golden kiwi is sweeter than green kiwi. |
| jackfruit | A very large fruit with green, bumpy skin and yellow flesh. | Ripe jackfruit has sweet yellow flesh. |
| lemon | A sour, yellow citrus fruit. | This lemon is bright yellow. |
| mango | A sweet tropical fruit with yellow or orange flesh. | A ripe mango is yellow and very sweet. |
| orange | A round, juicy citrus fruit with orange skin. | This orange is sweet and juicy. |
| passion fruit | A round, purple or yellow fruit full of juicy seeds. | Passion fruit juice is sweet and sour. |
| pineapple | A large fruit with rough skin, spiky leaves and sweet yellow flesh. | Cut the pineapple into small pieces. |
| star fruit (carambola) | A yellow fruit that looks like a star when you cut it. | Slices of star fruit look like little stars. |
| yellow cherry | A cherry with yellow skin and a sweet taste. | Yellow cherries are small, round and sweet. |
Common mistake
She eats a lot of fruits for her health. → She eats a lot of fruit for her health.
Use fruits only when you mean different types: tropical fruits such as mango and papaya.
Fruits in English: picture chart
Use this chart to review the fruit names. Cover the words and try to name each fruit.
Note
Some fruits have more than one English name. Amla is also called Indian gooseberry, and star fruit is also called carambola. Kiwi is short for kiwi fruit.
How can you learn fruit names easily?
Tip
Keep a fruit diary. Each time you eat a fruit, write one sentence about its colour, taste or shape, for example Today I ate a guava. It was sweet and crunchy.
To hear how each name is pronounced, use the Cambridge English Dictionary, or find more words in the Cambridge Dictionary list of fruit types.
Next, learn vegetable names in English and animal names in English, review the 100 most commonly used words in English, then test yourself with Vocabulary test 01. You can find every word from this lesson in our English Word Bank.
Summary
- Fruits can be grouped into tropical, citrus and yellow fruits.
- Some fruits, such as lemons and mangoes, belong to more than one group.
- Use fruit (uncountable) for fruit in general and fruits for different types.
- Some fruits have two names, such as amla and Indian gooseberry.
Frequently asked questions
Is fruit countable or uncountable?
Both. Use fruit without s for fruit in general: “I eat a lot of fruit.” Use fruits when you mean different types: “tropical fruits such as mango and papaya”.
What are citrus fruits?
Citrus fruits are juicy fruits such as lemons, limes, oranges and mandarins. They have thick skin and are a good source of vitamin C.
What is amla called in English?
Amla is also called Indian gooseberry. It is a small, round, green fruit with a very sour taste.
Which is the largest fruit that grows on a tree?
The jackfruit. Its sweet yellow flesh is eaten fresh, and young jackfruit is often cooked as a curry in South Asia.
What is the difference between a mandarin and a tangerine?
Both are small, sweet citrus fruits that are easy to peel. A tangerine is a type of mandarin with deeper orange skin.
