amokura: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowSpecialist / Cultural / New Zealand English
Quick answer
What does “amokura” mean?
A rare seabird species, the red-tailed tropicbird.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A rare seabird species, the red-tailed tropicbird.
A culturally significant bird in Māori mythology, sometimes associated with leadership, status, and as a portent or indicator of the health of the marine environment. It is also the name for the long, red tail feathers of the bird.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is virtually unknown in general British or American English. In contexts where it is used (e.g., academic ornithology), there is no variation in usage.
Connotations
In a New Zealand context, it carries strong connotations of Māori culture, natural heritage, and rarity. Elsewhere, it is a purely technical ornithological term.
Frequency
Effectively zero frequency in both UK and US corpora. Its primary domain is New Zealand English.
Grammar
How to Use “amokura” in a Sentence
The amokura (subject)saw an amokura (direct object)feathers of the amokura (possessive/genitive)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Unused.
Academic
Used in ornithology, ecology, and Māori studies papers; e.g., 'The foraging range of the amokura was tracked.'
Everyday
Only in New Zealand, potentially in conservation news, cultural discussions, or birdwatching reports.
Technical
Strictly ornithological classification and description.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “amokura”
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “amokura”
- Mispronouncing as /əˈmɒk.jʊə.rə/ (like 'amok'). The stress is on the first syllable: AH-moh-koo-rah.
- Using it as a verb or adjective; it is exclusively a noun.
- Assuming it is known to English speakers outside specific contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a loanword used in New Zealand English and understood in specialist circles (ornithology, Māori studies). It is not part of general international English vocabulary.
Approximately AH-moh-koo-rah. The 'a' is like the 'a' in 'father', and the 'u' is like the 'u' in 'put'.
It would depend on the dictionary used. It is unlikely to be found in standard English Scrabble dictionaries (e.g., OSPD, CSW) but might be included in some New Zealand-specific word lists.
'Amokura' refers specifically to the red-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda). 'Tropicbird' is the general English name for birds of the family Phaethontidae, which includes other species like the white-tailed tropicbird.
A rare seabird species, the red-tailed tropicbird.
Amokura is usually specialist / cultural / new zealand english in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a Māori warrior with a red feather (amokura) in his hair, running (amok) under the red (ru) sky at dawn.
Conceptual Metaphor
RARITY IS A RED FEATHER (The amokura's rarity and striking red tail feather symbolise uniqueness and special status).
Practice
Quiz
What is an 'amokura'?