limão

See also: lìmào and lǐmào

Portuguese

Um limão à esquerda e uma lima à direita. ― A lemon on the left and a lime on the right.

Etymology

Etymology tree

Arabic لَيْمُون (laymūn)bor.

Portuguese limão

Borrowed from Arabic لَيْمُون (laymūn) via Andalusian Arabic, from Persian لیمون / لیمو (limun, limu), from Sanskrit निम्बू (nimbū).

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /liˈmɐ̃w̃/ [liˈmɐ̃ʊ̯̃]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /liˈmɐ̃w̃/

• Hyphenation: li‧mão

Noun

limão m (plural limões)

1. lemon (citrus fruit)

   Synonym: (Brazil) limão-siciliano

2. (Brazil) lime (citrus fruit)

   Synonym: lima

   Hyponym: limão-taiti

3. (South Brazil) lemandarin, rangpur

   Synonym: limão-cravo

Usage notes

• In Brazil, unless otherwise specified, the variants persian lime (Citrus × latifolia) and Key lime (Citrus × aurantiifolia) are assumed. In southern regions, lemandarin (Citrus × limonia) may be assumed as well.
• Brazilians also consider a lemon (Citrus limon) to be a limão; specifically, limão siciliano.
• Non-Brazilians distinguish lima (“lime”) from limão.

Related terms

• limoeiro

Descendants

• Swahili: limau