What is fruit? Pronunciation and usage in English

fruit means . Learn how to pronounce and use fruit through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of fruit

fruitnoun

/fruːt/
Definition & pronunciation of fruit

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "fruit" in English. It's a common stumbling block for learners!

Here's the breakdown:

  • "Fruit" is generally pronounced as /fruːt/ (rhymes with "boot")

Let's break that down further:

  • "fru": This part sounds like the beginning of the word "fruitful". It's a slightly rounded, back vowel sound. Think of making a little "oo" shape with your mouth, but not as wide as in "moon."
  • "it": This part is pronounced exactly as you'd think – like the letter "i" followed by the letter "t" – so /ɪt/.

Here's a helpful way to hear it:

Common Mispronunciations & Why They're Wrong:

  • "frut": (as in, "fruit" with a hard "t" sound) - This is incorrect. The "t" is silent.
  • "fruit" with a short "u" sound: It's important to get that longer "oo" sound in the beginning.

To recap, focus on the rounded "fru" sound – it's the key to getting it right!

Do you want me to:

  • Give you some more example words with similar sounds?
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Usage and examples with the word fruit in English

Let's break down how to use the word "fruit" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word! Here's a breakdown of its different meanings and how to use it in sentences:

1. The Botanical Meaning (The most common)

  • Definition: A seed-bearing plant that grows on trees, shrubs, or vines. Think apples, bananas, oranges, berries, etc.
  • Examples:
    • "I bought a basket of fruit at the market." (general, referring to a variety of fruits)
    • "Strawberries are a delicious summer fruit."
    • "The fruit ripened in the sun."
    • "She made a pie with fruit filling."

2. Figurative Meaning (Describing People)

  • Definition: This is where "fruit" gets interesting. It’s used to describe a person's outcome or result – what they produce as a consequence of their actions or character. It often implies a negative outcome.
  • Emphasis: This usage is often critical. It suggests someone doesn't produce good results, or that their behavior has led to something undesirable.
  • Examples:
    • "He was a bad influence and eventually brought fruit of his laziness upon himself – he lost his job." (The job loss is the "fruit" of his laziness.)
    • "Don't associate with those people; they're just a source of trouble and will bring fruit of wickedness." (Referring to negative consequences – trouble, crime, etc.)
    • "She planted seeds of kindness, and she reaped fruit of compassion." (Here, it’s positive – good results from good actions.)
    • “The politician’s lies bore fruit - he lost the election.” (The lies led to the negative outcome of losing.)

3. Common Phrases Related to Fruit:

  • Fruitful: (adjective) – Producing good results; successful.
    • "This research project has been very fruitful."
    • "A fruitful discussion led to a solution."
  • Fruit of labor: (noun) – The result of hard work.
    • "The success of the project was the fruit of labor."
  • Fruitless: (adjective) – Without success; unproductive.
    • "Their efforts were fruitless."
  • Fruit salad: (noun) – A mixture of different kinds of fruit.

4. Other Uses (Less Common)

  • Fruitful discussion: A productive conversation.
  • Fruit trees: Trees that produce fruit.

Key Differences in Usage:

Usage Meaning Example
Botanical Real fruit "I ate an apple."
Figurative Outcome/Result "His actions bore bad fruit."
Adjective fruitful Productive "The meeting was fruitful."
Adjective fruitless Unproductive "The search was fruitless."

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What context are you thinking of when you want to use "fruit"? (e.g., describing a meal, talking about a person's character, etc.)

Synonyms for the word fruit

Idioms of the word fruit

bear fruit
to have a successful result
    forbidden fruit
    a thing that is not allowed and that therefore seems very attractive
    • Well, you know what they say— forbidden fruit tastes sweetest.
    the fruit/fruits of something
    the good results of an activity or a situation
    • to enjoy the fruits of your labours (= the rewards for your hard work)
    • The book is the fruit of years of research.

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