“A bunch of bananas on display in a supermarket.”
More Banana Vocabulary and Banana Facts:
- A group of bananas growing together is called a bunch. Each bunch is made up of several hands, and every individual banana within a hand is called a finger.
- The tough outer covering of a banana is called the peel (or skin).
- Bananas are botanically classified as a berry, even though we usually think of them as a typical fruit.
- The banana plant itself is technically a giant herb, not a tree – its “trunk” is made of tightly rolled leaves rather than wood.
- Bananas grow pointing upwards towards the sun as they ripen, which is why they curve instead of hanging straight down.
Where are the most bananas grown?
- India
- China
- Indonesia
- Ecuador
- Brazil
Source: Banana Production by Country 2026 | FAOSTAT Ranking
Talking About Ripeness:
- Fresh (Adjective): Newly picked and in good condition.
- Ripe (Adjective): Fully developed and ready to eat.
- Unripe (Adjective): Not yet ready to eat; still developing.
- Overripe (Adjective): Past its best; starting to turn soft and spotty.
- Mushy (Adjective): Soft and pulpy, often from being overripe.
- Spotted (Adjective): Marked with small brown spots, often a sign of ripening.
Bananas have given English a few fun expressions too. If someone is extremely excited, angry, or acting a bit crazy, they might ‘go bananas‘ – similar to losing your marbles! In a group or organisation, the most important person is sometimes nicknamed the ‘top banana‘, while their assistant, or the next most important person, is the ‘second banana‘.
In the News
Spotted in the news11 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Bananashealthline.comFrequently Asked Questions
To become extremely excited, angry, or a little crazy about something.
A bunch of bananas is called a hand, and each individual banana within it is called a finger.
Test Yourself
Quick Check
What is FunkyEnglish?
FunkyEnglish is a website that helps you improve your English. We offer quick lessons that teach idioms, slang, phrasal verbs and more. Visit our homepage to see our latest articles, or use the menu to find specific content!
