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Definition of naranjilla
naranjilla
/ˌnɑː.rɑːnˈhiː.jə/
na · ran · jil · la
Plural:naranjillas
naranjilla Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
The small, bright orange fruit of a South American nightshade plant, characterized by its green pulp and a tart, citrus-like flavor reminiscent of lime and rhubarb.
Example
"During our trip to Ecuador, we cooled off with a refreshing glass of juice made from freshly squeezed naranjilla."
2
A subtropical shrub (Solanum quitoense) native to the Andes mountains of South America, cultivated primarily for its edible, juice-producing fruit.
Example
"The greenhouse was carefully climate-controlled to mimic the Andean highlands so the naranjilla could thrive and bear fruit."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for naranjilla• Rhymes for naranjilla
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish 'naranjilla', literally meaning 'little orange', formed from 'naranja' (orange) and the diminutive suffix '-illa'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Naranjilla. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/naranjilla