Mangosteen Name Mystery: Thai joke version
With lifts on import bans in recent years, much of the western world has finally been introduced to the sweet & juicy delight of the mangosteen. This native Asian fruit identified scientifically as Garcinia mangostana is so new to the mass markets of US and Europe, common spell checkers have yet to recognize it.
Our processing machines aren’t the only ones in the dark–chances are if one isn’t following exotic health supplement fads, has never been to Asia or doesn’t frequent the local Asian fresh markets for that matter, then mangosteen is likely as alien to ones vocabulary as the name itself is to common name derivative logic.
For the round plump fruit of thick yet soft purple peel hiding a sweet white juicy interior resembles nothing of the mango. In fact, it’s not even related. And what the heck is a steen? What genius decided to name this fruit in English?
The Thais who call this common fruit mung-koot มังคุด don’t seem to be baffled how the confusing English name came about. There’s a joke in Thai describing the origin of mangosteen fruit’s English name.
At some point a long time ago, there was an English speaking foreigner in Thailand. At the market, the peculiar tropical fruit caught his attention. He wanted to tell his friends, family and comrades back home about this strange and delicious fruit, but wasn’t sure what to call it.
“Excuse me, what is this fruit,” holding it up to the seller, “Is this a mango?”
Met by the confused stare of the seller who knew little to no English, the foreigner dummied down his inquiry. “This, these,” first pointing to the one in his hand, then all the other on the fruit stand, “Mango? Yes? Mango?”
The seller replied promptly. “Mango Suan Teen!” (โมงโกส่วนตีน), which translates to ‘Mango, (your) feet!’ In Thai, adding such is a way to riducule the silly notion it proceeded.
“Mango what?”
“Mango Suan Teen!” repeating it even faster, ‘Mango sa-teen!”
“Oh, I see, Mango Steen. Thanks.”
Satisfied, the foreigner moved on, eventually returning to the west spreading the account of the ‘Mango-my-feet’ fruit, Mangosteen.
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