ou
Ou (noun) means a now probably extinct Hawaiian honeycreeper bird. Example: “The ou hasn't been reliably sighted in decades and is feared extinct.”
How to use ou
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a rare Hawaiian bird, or South African slang for "guy."
Word forms
ous plural, ous plural, ouens plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ hasn't been reliably sighted in decades and is feared extinct.
Etymology
The bird name comes from Hawaiian ʻōʻū.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for ou
See all rhymes for ou →Frequently asked questions
What does “ou” mean?
The word “ou” means a now probably extinct Hawaiian honeycreeper bird. In plain terms, either a rare Hawaiian bird, or South African slang for "guy.".
How do you pronounce “ou”?
“Ou” is pronounced OH-oo (/ˈəʊ.uː/ in IPA).
How do you use “ou” in a sentence?
Here is “ou” used in a sentence: “The ou hasn't been reliably sighted in decades and is feared extinct.”
What part of speech is “ou”?
“Ou” is a noun.
Is “ou” a common word?
“Ou” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “ou” have?
“Ou” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a now probably extinct Hawaiian honeycreeper bird.
What is an ou in Hawaiian wildlife?
The ou is a Hawaiian honeycreeper bird that is now considered probably extinct. Hawaiian honeycreepers are a group of birds native to the Hawaiian Islands, many of which have declined severely or disappeared.
What does ou mean in South African slang?
In South African slang, ou is an informal term for a man or guy, similar to how "dude" or "bloke" is used in other varieties of English. It is casual and typically used in everyday conversation rather than formal writing.
Is ou used differently in Hawaii versus South Africa?
Yes, the two uses are unrelated: in Hawaii, ou names a now probably extinct honeycreeper bird, while in South African slang, ou informally refers to a man or guy. The identical spelling is a coincidence between two entirely separate linguistic traditions.
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