How to Pronounce Capybara (and What the Word Means)
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The short answer
KAP-ih-BAR-uh. The pronunciation, the spelling, what the Tupi word means, the Spanish and Portuguese names, and what to call a group of them.
Here is how to pronounce capybara: KAP-ih-BAR-uh, four syllables, with the stress on BAR. Dictionaries write it /ˌkæpɪˈbɑːrə/. Say it slowly once, then at normal speed, and you have it.
If you have been saying cap-EE-bara or cappy-BEAR-a, you are in good company. The word comes from a language most people have never heard spoken, and the animal is far too calm to correct anyone. This guide covers the capybara pronunciation, the spelling, the meaning and the plural.
How to pronounce capybara, syllable by syllable
Working out how to pronounce capybara gets easier when you break it into four pieces. Each one is a sound you already use every day.
Put together: KAP-ih-BAR-uh. If someone asks how do you say capybara, that is the whole answer. Land on BAR and let the end fade out.
How to spell capybara
The English spelling is c-a-p-y-b-a-r-a. The y in the middle is the part people miss. Search for how to spell capybara and you will see the same near misses: capibara, capybarra, cappybara and capabara.
One of those is not really a typo. Capibara, with an i, is the standard Spanish spelling, and you will see it in Spanish speaking countries. The others are just the word being sounded out. In English, stick with the y and a single r.
What does capybara mean
So what does capybara mean? The word comes from Tupi, an Indigenous language of South America. The Old Tupi forms kapi'yva and ka'apiûara are usually translated as grass eater, which is about as accurate as an animal name gets. A capybara is a herbivore that grazes on roughly 6 to 8 pounds of grass a day, and its teeth grow continuously so all that chewing wears them down at the right pace.
Capybara in English kept the Tupi word almost untouched, which is why it sounds like nothing else in the dictionary. The scientific name is Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris.
Capybara in Spanish and Portuguese
Capybaras live in every South American country except Chile, so the animal has more than one everyday name. Capybara in Spanish depends on where you are:
- Carpincho in Argentina and Uruguay.
- Chigüire or chigüiro in Venezuela and Colombia.
- Capibara in other Spanish speaking countries.
In Portuguese it is capivara, the name used in Brazil. Any of the four makes a lovely name for a plush.
What is a group of capybaras called
People love to guess a fancy collective noun here, but the honest answer to what is a group of capybaras called is simply a herd. In the wild a herd is usually 10 to 20 animals, with one dominant male, several females, their young and a few subordinate males. In the dry season, herds of up to 100 gather around shrinking water.
As for the capybara plural, it is capybaras, with a plain s. One capybara, two capybaras, a whole herd of capybaras.
Now say it to one
The fastest way to lock in a new word is to use it on something that will not laugh at you. The Riverbank Capybara Teddy Bear Plush stands on four legs in shaggy honey fur and looks the most like the real animal. The Roasted Hazelnut Mini Capybara Plush is the same idea at desk size.
For the plural, get a herd. The Six Friends Brown Mini Capybara Plush Set and the Six Friends Pink Mini Capybara Plush Set each put six minis in a snack bag cushion with a clear window. Say six capybaras out loud and you will never get it wrong again.
Practice on a capybara of your own
Now the only thing missing is the capybara. Browse the full capybara plush collection, or start small with the mini capybara plush collection and work your way up to a herd. Every plush is a collectible for ages 14 and up, and none of them will mind how you said the word last week.
Frequently asked questions
Is it capybara or capibara?
Both are real spellings, for different languages. Capybara, with a y, is the English word and the one to use in English writing and searches. Capibara, with an i, is the standard Spanish spelling. The two sound almost the same, so if you see the i version on a sign in South America, it is not a mistake.
How do you say capybara in Spanish?
It depends on the country. In Argentina and Uruguay the animal is a carpincho. In Venezuela and Colombia it is a chigüire or chigüiro. Other Spanish speaking countries use capibara, spelled with an i. In Brazil, where Portuguese is spoken, the word is capivara.
What is the plural of capybara?
The plural of capybara is capybaras. Add an s and you are done. There is no Latin style plural, because the everyday word comes from Tupi rather than Latin. A group of capybaras is called a herd, whether it is 10 animals at a river or six minis in a snack bag on your desk.