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noun A2 Elementary Common

robin

RO-bihn
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Robin (noun) means a small songbird with a red or orange breast; in Europe, a distinct species, and in North America, a different, larger species. Example: “A robin hopped across the lawn looking for worms.”

noun
1
A small songbird with a red or orange breast; in Europe, a distinct species, and in North America, a different, larger species.
"A robin hopped across the lawn looking for worms."
"On frosty mornings a robin sings from the top of the fence."
"The children watched a robin build its nest in the hedge."

How to use robin

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small bird known for its red or orange breast, often seen as a sign of spring in the UK or as a common backyard bird in the US.

UK vs US

The British robin (Erithacus rubecula) and the American robin (Turdus migratorius) are different species that just share the name and a red/orange breast.

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Word forms

Plural
robins
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

A _____ hopped across the lawn looking for worms.

Etymology

Short for "Robin Redbreast," itself from the medieval personal name Robin, a diminutive of Robert — the bird was essentially given a human nickname.

Synonyms

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redbreast thrush songbird

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Rhymes for robin

Tobin hemoglobin
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Frequently asked questions

What does “robin” mean?
The word “robin” means a small songbird with a red or orange breast; in Europe, a distinct species, and in North America, a different, larger species. In plain terms, a small bird known for its red or orange breast, often seen as a sign of spring in the UK or as a common backyard bird in the US.
How do you pronounce “robin”?
“Robin” is pronounced RO-bihn (/ˈɹɑ.bɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “robin” in a sentence?
Here is “robin” used in a sentence: “A robin hopped across the lawn looking for worms.”
What part of speech is “robin”?
“Robin” is a noun.
Is “robin” a common word?
“Robin” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between an American robin and a European robin?
Both are small songbirds with a red or orange breast, but they are distinct species that share the name because of that colouring. The European robin is a small, round bird, while the North American robin is a larger bird more closely related to thrushes. They belong to different bird families despite the common name.
Is the word robin capitalised?
As the name of the bird, robin is written in lowercase, like other common animal names. It is only capitalised when used as a personal name, such as Robin, or at the start of a sentence. In some formal ornithological writing, full species names like "American Robin" may be capitalised.
What is a group of robins called?
A group of robins is traditionally called a "round" or a "worm" of robins, though these collective nouns are rarely used in everyday speech. In ordinary usage, people simply say "a group of robins" or "some robins."

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