Pumpkin - 南瓜 and 番瓜

[tony1343]

Hi,

I'm trying to figure out the word for pumpkin. The dictionary gives me 南瓜 and 番瓜. Are these both synonymous for pumpkin or is there a difference between the two?

Thanks.

[imron]

南瓜 is what I use. Not sure I've ever heard 番瓜 so I couldn't tell you the difference.

[h.zhao]

The same thing. 南瓜（Nan Gua） and 番瓜（Fan Gua）

You can see more in this link:

http://zh.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%E5%8D%97%E7%93%9C&oldid=11407561

It says 南瓜是葫芦科南瓜属的植物。因产地叫法各异，又名麦瓜、番瓜、倭瓜、金冬瓜，臺灣話稱為金瓜，原产于北美洲。

which means"Pumpkin is a gourd-like squash of the genus Cucurbita. And be called as Mai Gua, Fan Gua, Wo Gua, Jindong Gua in different palces, and Jin Gua in Taiwan. And it came form North America."

[Don_Horhe]

My 现代汉语词典 says 番瓜 and 南瓜 are the same, the former being a dialect, non-standard word.

[vampire]

南瓜 is more widely used, 番瓜 AFAIK is only used in teochew and minnan dialects

[Mouseneb]

Here in Hainan, nangua is used for pumpkins, but also for practically every other kind of squash or gourd you see as well. Sometimes when I have a question like this I find it instructive to do a google image search on the two terms.