guava

American  

[gwah-vuh] / ˈgwɑ və /

noun

1. any of numerous tropical and subtropical American trees or shrubs belonging to the genus Psidium, of the myrtle family, especially P. guajava, bearing large, yellow, round to pear-shaped fruit, and P. littorale, bearing smaller, yellowish to deep-red, oval fruit.

2. the fruit, used for making jam, jelly, etc.

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guava British  

/ ˈɡwɑːvə /

noun

1. any of various tropical American trees of the myrtaceous genus Psidium, esp P. guajava, grown in tropical regions for their edible fruit

2. the fruit of such a tree, having yellow skin and pink pulp: used to make jellies, jams, etc

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Etymology

Origin of guava

1545–55; < Spanish guayaba < Arawak

Explanation

A guava is a small, sweet tropical fruit. The tree that guavas grow on is also called a guava. Most guavas are green, with slightly bumpy skin, often ripening to a yellow or almost maroon color. Though a guava smells a lot like a lemon, its pale pink flesh and juice are sweet and mild, sometimes described as a cross between a ripe pear and a strawberry. Guavas are native to South America, Central America, and Mexico, and their name comes from an Arawakan word for "guava tree."

Example Sentences

In addition to vitamin C, guava also provides vitamin A, folate, dietary fiber, and small amounts of iron.

From Science Daily • May 27, 2026

Most of the studies examined guava juice alongside iron supplementation.

From Science Daily • May 27, 2026

Nenette, a self-described “green thumb,” is delighted by the California garden’s bounty, including oranges, lemons, guava trees and camellias.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2025

“You’ll never see a pineapple or guava cider from Finnriver because they don’t grow in the Pacific Northwest,” said Amanda Oborne, Finnriver’s CEO.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025

The Saturday before Christmas, we go shopping in the open air mercado for roasted pig, avocados, guava paste, and ripe plantains for pIátanos maduros, the different merchants calling out their wares from their stands.

From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez