Guayaba Vs Guava: What Spelling Should Be Used When Writing?

Guayaba vs guava! Have you ever heard of these words? You may have heard of the first one because guava is the most popular of the two. Worry not because this post will discuss both of them.

Guava is a sweet fruit that grows in tropical climates. The tree from which this fruit grows is also called guava. The difference between guayaba and guava is phonetic, as they both refer to the same plant. However, when it comes to writing, you should use guava as it is the most common spelling.

Did you know that you can refer to guava as a guayaba? If you did not, then you have come to the right place. Read on to learn more about these alternate spellings.

Definitions Of Guayaba And Guava

While it is the most common language in the world, English can be extremely confusing sometimes. The most confusing thing is the existence of several words with alternate spellings. Therefore, sometimes it is hard to know if similar words mean the same thing or if they are related. For instance, is there a difference between guava and guayaba? Let us look at the definitions for each word to find out.

Definition Of Guayaba

Most online and offline sources have “(uncommon) guava” as the definition for guayaba. This means that it is an uncommon alternative word for guava. Therefore, its definition is similar to that of guava, which we will discuss below.

Guayaba is a Spanish derivative of the Indian word “guayabo,” the original name for the small tropical tree that bears the guava fruit. The Arawak Indians used “guayabo” to refer to the guava tree.

Definition Of Guava

Guava is a tropical tree belonging to the myrtle family, scientifically known as the Psidium guajava. The tree is usually small and commonly grows in tropical and subtropical regions like the Caribbean, Central, and Northern America. For example, in a sentence, “The guava we planted last year has produced its first fruits.”

Another definition of guava is “a yellowish tropical pear-shaped fruit with a thin green, yellow, or brown skin commonly used for making jams and jellies.” The inside of the fruit is yellowish or pale green to pink flesh that you can eat.

In other words, it is the fruit produced by the guava tree. An example sentence is, “The guava from Walmart will make the best jelly.”

Other sources define guava as “an edible, pale orange tropical fruit with a pink or pale green juicy fruit and a strong, flavorful aroma.” An example in a sentence is, “Guava juice is one of the most refreshing beverages I have tasted.”

How To Properly Use Guayaba And Guava In A Sentence

Anyone can use the words “guayaba” and “guava” in sentences as long as you know what they mean. However, not everyone knows how to construct correct sentences. For instance, should you place an article before the word “guava” in a sentence? Read the content below for this answer and other things you should know to construct better sentences with “guava” and “guayaba.”

How To Use The Word Guayaba

Guayaba is a noun. Therefore, you can use it in a sentence as such. However, there isn’t much we can discuss regarding using it in sentences as it is a Spanish word. Therefore, its application in sentences may be more relevant in Spanish.

However, this does not mean you cannot wholly use it in English sentences. For instance, we found the following example of its application as a sentence in English Literature: “The guayaba is in the form of a filbert, and it is the size of a fig.”

Note: You can use this word in unofficial writing or conversation. However, it would be wise to use alternate spelling when writing an official document like a school paper.

How To Use The Word Guava

You can use this word when referring to the pale green or orange fruit that grows from the tropical guava tree. An example sentence is, “Kindly buy me guava when you visit the market.”

Another context where you can apply this word is referring to the tree that bears the guava fruit. Here is an example in a sentence, “The James family planted the guava in their backyard last night.”

Note: “Guava” can be a countable or uncountable noun. Therefore, in some contexts, you can use “guavas” as its plural form; in others, its plural remains “guava.” However, in general applications, the correct plural is “guava.”

So, when using it as an uncountable noun, you should not place the article “a” before it. For example:

• Please buy me a guava at the store (INCORRECT).
• Please buy me guava at the store (CORRECT).

Note that you can use the word as a countable noun when referring to a collection of guavas or types of guavas.

Guayaba Vs. Guava: More On These Words

The Arawak Indians, native to the Great Antilles and South America, discovered the tropical tree we now know as the guava in the early 1550s. So, the first name they gave it was “guayabo.” However, when the Spanish discovered the tree and its uses, they derived a Spanish word for it. So, the Spanish derivative of “guayabo” is “guayaba.”

So, the spelling “guayaba” is a direct Spanish translation of “guayabo” or “guava.” Therefore, this spelling does not come up in the English dictionary because it is a Spanish word. Other sources claim that “guayaba” is a variant of the Spanish version of “guaya” from the Arawak word “guayabo.”

The first known and recorded use of the spelling “guava” was in the 19th century when English-speaking nations started planting this tree.

Also, the word “guava” has two syllables, “gua” and “va.” So, its correct pronunciation is “gwah-vuh.” However, when pronouncing this word, you should stress the first syllable. In contrast, “guayaba” has three syllables, “gua-ya-ba.” Its pronunciation is quite different, especially when Spanish speakers pronounce it.

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List Of Examples Of Guayaba And Guava In Sentences

The consensus is that guava and guayaba refer to the same thing. However, since guava is the preferred and common spelling, you may not find good sentence examples with the word guayaba. Even when this is the case, you need not worry; we have you covered in this section. Here are examples of sentences with the words “guava” and “guayaba.”

Example sentences of the word guayaba

1. The strong wind rustled the guayaba tree leaves and broke some of its branches.
2. Junior picked a fat guayaba from the tree in her neighbor’s compound.
3. According to scientists, guayaba bushes grow near the ground when planted in non-tropical regions.
4. We plan to raid the Biden compound as soon as the guayaba trees are large enough to bend and pluck their fruits.
5. My mother uses guayaba as the secret recipe for her famous tropical smoothie.

Example sentences of the word guava

1. My mum’s guava is the healthiest and most robust in the neighborhood.
2. Jack visited the plantation with her 17year old son, who picked guava without permission from the farmer.
3. I add guavas to my smoothie to give it a lemon scent without the unnecessary bitterness.
4. Did you know that eating too many guava fruits can cause constipation?
5. Guava is a healthy fruit you can eat raw or use in recipes for jams, jellies, smoothies, and tropical beverages.

Conclusion

While guava and guayaba refer to the same thing, guayaba is the Spanish word for guava. Therefore, it would be wise not to use it when writing in English. Before reading this article, you probably didn’t know that guava is also a guayaba. Go ahead and use the word correctly in your sentences.