corella: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialist/Technical (Ornithology, Zoology); Regional (Australian English)
Quick answer
What does “corella” mean?
A small to medium-sized white cockatoo native to Australia, often with a distinctive pink or salmon-coloured patch between the eye and bill.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small to medium-sized white cockatoo native to Australia, often with a distinctive pink or salmon-coloured patch between the eye and bill.
In a broader ornithological context, any of several species of white cockatoos of the genus Cacatua, characterized by their slender build, long pointed crests, and loud, screeching calls. The term is also used in some regions as a common name for similar-looking parrots.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is equally rare in both dialects. It is most likely to be encountered in British English in specialized ornithological contexts. In American English, it is almost exclusively found in texts about Australian wildlife or in aviculture.
Connotations
Neutral/technical in both dialects. In Australian English, it may carry a slight connotation of being a native, sometimes noisy, bird familiar in certain regions.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general corpora for both BrE and AmE. Its usage is almost entirely confined to specific fields or regional contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “corella” in a Sentence
The [adjective] corella [verb].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “corella” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not used as a verb]
American English
- [Not used as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not used as an adverb]
American English
- [Not used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- [Rarely used adjectivally] The corella population is thriving.
American English
- [Rarely used adjectivally] She studies corella behaviour.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in zoology, biology, and environmental science papers discussing Australian avifauna.
Everyday
Rare, except in Australia where someone might point out 'a corella' in a tree or park.
Technical
Standard term in ornithological field guides, taxonomic lists, and aviculture.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “corella”
- Misspelling as 'corela', 'corrella', or 'corelo'. Using it as a general term for any white bird.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A corella is a specific type of cockatoo. All corellas are cockatoos, but not all cockatoos (e.g., the large Sulphur-crested Cockatoo) are corellas.
Corellas are native to Australia and New Guinea. They are commonly seen in open woodlands, farmlands, and sometimes urban parks in Australia.
It is pronounced kuh-REL-uh, with the stress on the second syllable.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialist term. Most English speakers would not know it unless they have an interest in birds or Australian wildlife.
A small to medium-sized white cockatoo native to Australia, often with a distinctive pink or salmon-coloured patch between the eye and bill.
Corella is usually specialist/technical (ornithology, zoology); regional (australian english) in register.
Corella: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈrɛlə/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈrɛlə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this specific term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CORE of white feathers with a RELAXED (rela) crest – a CORE-RELA (corella) bird.
Conceptual Metaphor
[Not commonly metaphorized]
Practice
Quiz
In which context are you most likely to encounter the word 'corella'?