Mango Came Into English Through Portuguese Trade
A mango is a sweet tropical fruit. Its name travelled from Tamil through Malay and Portuguese before reaching English.
A mango is the sweet fleshy fruit of a tropical tree. Its name records the trade route: Tamil *mankay* became Malay *manga*, which Portuguese traders in India carried home as *manga*, and English took it in the 1580s. The fruit and its name travelled the same sea lanes. The mango belongs to the same family as cashews and pistachios, and its skin contains urushiol, the compound in poison ivy, which is why some people react to it.
- A tropical fruit. *A ripe mango.*
- Mango tree. *A mango tree.*
- Tamil — *mankay*, mango fruit. *The source.*
- Urushiol — the irritant in the skin. *Urushiol.*
- Chutney — a common preparation. *Mango chutney.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | mango | One mango. |
| Plural | mangoes | Ripe mangoes. |
| Plural | mangos | Also accepted. |
| Tamil | mankay | Mango fruit. |
| Portuguese | manga | Mango. |
- The mangoes are ripe in May.Season.
- The name came through Portuguese.Etymology.
- The skin contains urushiol.Allergy.
Fruit names from the spice trade
- Mango — Tamil through Malay and Portuguese
- Banana — from a West African language through Portuguese
- Papaya — Carib through Spanish
- Tamarind — Arabic, meaning Indian date
- Orange — Sanskrit through Persian and Arabic
Portuguese *manga*, from Malay *mangga*, from Tamil *mankay*, from *man*, the mango tree, plus *kay*, fruit.
Is it mangoes or mangos?
Both are accepted. Mangoes is more common in British English.
Why do some people react to mango skin?
It contains urushiol, the same compound found in poison ivy, to which some people are sensitive.