penguin
PEHNG-gwihn
Penguin (noun) means a flightless black-and-white seabird of the Southern Hemisphere that swims well and walks upright on short legs. Example: “At the zoo, the children laughed as a penguin slid on its belly.”
noun
1
A flightless black-and-white seabird of the Southern Hemisphere that swims well and walks upright on short legs.
"At the zoo, the children laughed as a penguin slid on its belly."
"The penguins waddled across the ice toward the water."
"Emperor penguins can dive hundreds of meters deep to hunt fish."
How to use penguin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA flightless, upright-walking seabird found mostly in the Southern Hemisphere.
Common pairings
penguin colony
emperor penguin
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Word forms
- Plural
- penguins
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
At the zoo, the children laughed as a _____ slid on its belly.
Etymology
Origin uncertain; the word first described the great auk of the Northern Hemisphere before being applied to the unrelated Southern Hemisphere birds we call penguins today.
Rhymes for penguin
See all rhymes for penguin →Frequently asked questions
What does “penguin” mean?
The word “penguin” means a flightless black-and-white seabird of the Southern Hemisphere that swims well and walks upright on short legs. In plain terms, a flightless, upright-walking seabird found mostly in the Southern Hemisphere.
How do you pronounce “penguin”?
“Penguin” is pronounced PEHNG-gwihn (/ˈpɛŋ.ɡwɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “penguin” in a sentence?
Here is “penguin” used in a sentence: “The penguins waddled across the ice toward the water.”
What part of speech is “penguin”?
“Penguin” is a noun.
Is “penguin” a common word?
“Penguin” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
Can penguins fly?
No, penguins are flightless seabirds; their wings have evolved into flippers suited for swimming rather than flight. They compensate for this by being strong swimmers in the water.
Where do penguins live?
Penguins are native to the Southern Hemisphere, where they swim well and walk upright on short legs. Their range includes cold regions as well as some temperate coastal areas in that hemisphere.
Why are penguins black and white?
Penguins have black-and-white coloring as a defining physical feature of the bird, distinguishing them from other flightless or swimming seabirds. This coloring is part of what makes penguins immediately recognizable.
