guava

American  

[gwah-vuh] / ˈgwɑ və /

noun

• guavas
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• guavas
  plural

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

See Examples For:

guava guavas

Several smaller studies conducted in Indonesia had already suggested that drinking guava juice might raise hemoglobin levels, but researchers said the overall evidence had not previously been reviewed together in a comprehensive analysis.

From Science Daily ● May 27, 2026

Overall, participants experienced an average increase in hemoglobin levels of 1.71 g/dl after consuming guava juice.

From Science Daily ● May 27, 2026

Someone instructs you to tear off pieces and dip them in the accompanying guava and plantain chutneys, silky chickpea curry and punchy pepper jelly, pooled around a peninsula of tangy cultured butter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026

As we finished up our mid-afternoon meal — a hodgepodge of spicy tuna bites and asparagus fries paired with guava and berry mocktails — McCurdy reflected on the agency she is finally able to take.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 19, 2026

The most delicious part of the guava surrounds the tiny seeds.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago

It evoked kiwis and guavas like Twizzlers do strawberries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

There are pomegranates, guavas, dragon fruit and nectarines.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

It’s palms, banana plants, loquats, pineapple guavas and other assorted tropicals and subtropicals in our gardens.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 7, 2024

They had a habit of stealing Shukkur’s unripe guavas, plums and mangoes whenever they visited, prompting scoldings from their grandfather.

From Washington Times ● Jun. 6, 2023

The boys who have gone ahead on foot are already pulling down branches and shaking loose a rain of guavas.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez