kangaroo — A large marsupial from Australia with strong hind legs for jumping and a pouch for carrying young
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A large marsupial from Australia with strong hind legs for jumping and a pouch for carrying young
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkæŋɡəruː/
Example Sentences
- The kangaroo's boxing match against the tourist went viral on social media.
- Australia is famous for its unique wildlife, including kangaroos and koalas.
- The mother kangaroo keeps her joey safe in her pouch until it's ready to hop on its own.
kangaroo
NOUN[/ˈkæŋɡəruː/]
A large marsupial from Australia with strong hind legs for jumping and a pouch for carrying young
Kangaroo jumping with joey in pouch
A kangaroo paddles a canoe through bamboo!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Aboriginal Australian languages, specifically from the Guugu Yimithirr language of northeastern Queensland. The term 'gangurru' or similar phonetic variants in Aboriginal languages referred to the large marsupial, and was adopted into English during Captain James Cook's expedition to Australia in the 18th century, though the popular anecdote of Cook directly asking an Aboriginal person the animal's name is likely apocryphal.
Breakdown
gangurru (Guugu Yimithirr language) → kangaroo (English adaptation). The word underwent phonetic modification during its adoption into English, with the Aboriginal initial 'g' sound shifting to 'k' and the final vowel restructuring to match English phonological patterns.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The kangaroo's boxing match against the tourist went viral on social media.”
“Australia is famous for its unique wildlife, including kangaroos and koalas.”
“The mother kangaroo keeps her joey safe in her pouch until it's ready to hop on its own.”
“My gym teacher made us do kangaroo hops across the entire basketball court.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Related
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