Ara
AY-ruh
Genus
The macaw
Literally: macaw
| Part | Meaning | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ara | macaw (a large parrot) | New Latin (from Tupi) (ara) | Adopted directly into New Latin taxonomy from the Tupi word arara (macaw), shortened to Ara. The dictionary entry carries no language code, indicating it is a ready-made taxonomic term rather than a classical Greek or Latin root. |
A single uninomial genus name, treated as a feminine noun in New Latin (as is conventional for bird genera). It stands alone with no specific epithet in this citation.
Pronunciation
- AY-ruh Two-syllable word: stress falls on the penult (rule 1). Final -a is pronounced 'uh'.
Other readings
Some sources trace the word to the Tupi/Old Tupi arara or ará, the indigenous Brazilian name for the macaw, shortened by Lacépède (1799) for the genus.
The dictionary lists 'ara' without a source language, marking it as a taxonomic combining form. Its ultimate origin is the Tupi word arara (or ará), the indigenous Brazilian name for macaws, not a Greek or Latin root. Ara Lacépède, 1799 is the accepted genus for the large New World macaws (family Psittacidae).