Search Dictionary
Definition of safou
safou
/səˈfuː/
sa · fou
Plural:safous
safou Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
An edible, purplish-blue fruit native to Central and West Africa, known for its high fat content and buttery texture when roasted or boiled (often referred to as the African pear).
Example
"The street vendors in Cameroon roasted the safou over hot coals, serving them warm alongside roasted plantains."
2
The evergreen tree native to tropical Africa that produces the safou fruit.
Example
"Farmers in the Congo Basin often cultivate the safou alongside cocoa and coffee to diversify their agricultural yield."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for safou• Rhymes for safou
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Central African languages, likely originating from the Kikongo or Teke word 'safu', referring to the fruit of the Dacryodes edulis tree.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Safou. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 18, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/safou