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Definition of inga

inga

/ˈɪŋ.ɡə/
in · ga
Plural:ingas
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inga Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A genus of tropical and subtropical trees and shrubs native to the Americas in the legume family, characterized by their pinnate leaves and long pods that contain a sweet, edible pulp.

Example

"Indigenous communities frequently planted inga trees alongside coffee and cacao crops to provide essential shade."

2

The long, ribbed, pod-like fruit of the inga tree, often referred to as an ice-cream bean because of the sweet, fluffy texture of the pulp surrounding its seeds.

Example

"We bought a fresh inga at the local market and cracked open the hard pod to eat the snowy pulp inside."

• Rhymes for inga

• Nearby Words

infuser
infusion
infusoria
inga
inga falls
ingenious
ingeniously

Word Origin & Etymology

From Portuguese 'ingá', borrowed from Old Tupi 'ingá', which referred to the tree and its fruit.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Inga. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/inga
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