What nickname for the avocado refers to its texture and shape?

The avocado nickname “alligator pear” refers to the fruit’s pear-like shape and, especially in some varieties, its rough, dark, alligator-like skin. “Avocado pear” is another historical form of the same nickname.

The term was used widely in English before “avocado” became the dominant name in many markets. The modern word avocado came through Spanish aguacate, derived from the Nahuatl āhuacatl. English speakers sometimes adapted the fruit’s appearance into the more descriptive phrase alligator pear, particularly when encountering varieties with pebbled green or nearly black skin.

Not every avocado is strongly pear-shaped or rough-skinned. Cultivars can be round, oval, or elongated, and their skins may be smooth, pebbled, green, brown, or purplish-black. Hass avocados, the most widely grown commercial cultivar, are especially associated with dark, textured skin when ripe.

The nickname describes appearance rather than taste or botanical classification. Botanically, the avocado is generally considered a large berry, while culinary usage treats it as a savory fruit used in guacamole, salads, sandwiches, sauces, and spreads.