lychee

/ˈlaɪ.tʃiː/ Chinese Origin Food & Drink

Original Word

荔枝

Mandarin (lì zhī)

Entered English

16th century

First recorded usage in English

The Story Behind "lychee"

From Mandarin 'lì zhī' (荔枝), a tropical fruit native to southern China. The word was borrowed into English through trade contacts in the 16th century.

Example Usage

"Fresh lychees are a delicious summer treat."

All Chinese Loanwords Look Up in Dictionary

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