noun

koala

koh-AH-luh

Koala (noun) means a tree-dwelling Australian marsupial with a stout grey body, round furry ears, and a diet almost entirely of eucalyptus leaves. Example: “The koala spent most of the day asleep in the fork of a eucalyptus tree.”

noun

A tree-dwelling Australian marsupial with a stout grey body, round furry ears, and a diet almost entirely of eucalyptus leaves.

"The koala spent most of the day asleep in the fork of a eucalyptus tree."

"Tourists lined up to have their photo taken holding a koala."

How to use koala

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe cuddly-looking Australian animal that lives in trees and eats eucalyptus.

Common mistake

Koalas are marsupials, not bears — "koala bear" is a common but technically incorrect nickname.

Common pairings

koala bear baby koala

Word forms

koalas plural, Koalas plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ spent most of the day asleep in the fork of a eucalyptus tree.

Etymology

From an Aboriginal Australian word (Dharug "gula"), possibly meaning "no water" — koalas get nearly all their moisture from leaves.

Synonyms

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koala bear native bear kangaroo bear

Rhymes for koala

ala gala sala Kala mala Lala Bala Vala scala Ayala impala Kerala

See all rhymes for koala →

Frequently asked questions

What does “koala” mean?

The word “koala” means a tree-dwelling Australian marsupial with a stout grey body, round furry ears, and a diet almost entirely of eucalyptus leaves. In plain terms, the cuddly-looking Australian animal that lives in trees and eats eucalyptus.

How do you pronounce “koala”?

“Koala” is pronounced koh-AH-luh (/koʊˈɑː.lə/ in IPA).

How do you use “koala” in a sentence?

Here is “koala” used in a sentence: “The koala spent most of the day asleep in the fork of a eucalyptus tree.”

What part of speech is “koala”?

“Koala” is a noun.