Avocado Pear
/ˌæv.əˈkɑː.doʊ ˈpeər/noun
A pear-shaped fruit with green or dark skin and creamy flesh, also called an avocado.
Did you know?The word avocado entered English through Spanish aguacate, borrowed from Nahuatl āhuacatl; its association with fertility and testicles reflects the fruit’s shape and ancient cultural symbolism, though the exact Nahuatl meaning is debated.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian period
Nahuatl
āhuacatl
“The Nahuatl name for the avocado fruit; often associated with the fruit’s shape, though the popular translation “testicle” is not fully certain.”
16th Century
Spanish
aguacate
“Spanish borrowing of Nahuatl āhuacatl, referring to the avocado.”
17th Century
English
avocado
“An English adaptation of Spanish aguacate.”
17th–18th Century
English
avocado pear
“A descriptive English name comparing the fruit’s shape and texture to a pear.”
Modern English
English
avocado pear
“A regional English term, especially common in Britain and parts of the Commonwealth, for an avocado.”