Dumme Fragen

[matrixmann]

Und wieder läutet der Tag der dummen Fragen. "Ask a Stupid Question Day" auch in Übersee genannt.

Ein dumme Frage: Zu welcher Kategorie gehört eigentlich eine Avocado? Obst oder Gemüse?

Comments

[mexpatriot]

Gemüse.

[matrixmann]

What do you conclude this from, if I may ask?

[mexpatriot]

Maybe it is intuitive, like grammar. Avocados go with other vegetables, like tomatoes or beans, onions, chiles, etc. You wouldn't have avocado with berries, oranges, mangos. I suppose it is rather arbitrary, though.

Mexicans don't make these distinctions. They don't have a class called "melons," as in English. They say sandia, papaya, melon, melon chino, etc., while English says, watermelon, papaya melon, honeydew melon, etc.

[matrixmann]

Indeed, you don't combine it with fruits for whatever treat you serve it in...

Ah, btw, as you mention "papaya" - as far as I've read, it's actually a berry, not a melon. The reason is because its seeds grow on the inside in a concentrated manner and they grow on a tree, not on the ground on a tendril like melons and cucumbers do.