Words / A1

koh-AHL-uh/kəʊˈɑːlə/

A koala is a grey Australian animal that lives in eucalyptus trees and sleeps a lot. Countable: a koala, koalas. It is not a bear, though people say koala bear. A panda is black and white and eats bamboo; a sloth is also slow in trees but lives in rainforests in the Americas. Mix-up: koala vs cola (a brown drink) — extra a vs no a, different meaning.

Meaning

A grey Australian animal that lives in trees and eats eucalyptus leaves.

Examples

• “The koala is asleep in the tree.”
• “The koala held onto the branch.”
• “Do not shout near the koala — it is sleeping.”

Good to know

a koala (not a bear, Australia, trees). Contrast: panda (bamboo), sloth (Americas). Mix-up: cola.

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