guan: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialist / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “guan” mean?
A tropical American bird of the curassow family, related to the pheasant.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tropical American bird of the curassow family, related to the pheasant.
In specialist ornithological contexts, a general term for any bird in the family Cracidae (including guans, chachalacas, and curassows). The word is rarely used metaphorically in English.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional differences in meaning or use; it is a technical zoological term.
Connotations
Neutral scientific/zoological term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in both UK and US English. Slightly higher potential exposure in the US due to geographical proximity to the birds' habitats.
Grammar
How to Use “guan” in a Sentence
[specific epithet] + guan (e.g., 'Andean guan')guan + of + [region]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in zoology, biology, and environmental science texts relating to Neotropical fauna.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be encountered or used.
Technical
Precise ornithological term for classification and description.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “guan”
- Misspelling as 'gwan' or 'guana' (the latter means iguana).
- Mispronouncing it as /ɡuː.æn/ or /dʒuː.æn/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, specialist term used mainly in ornithology and birdwatching contexts.
It is pronounced /ɡwɑːn/, rhyming with 'swan' but with a /ɡ/ sound at the beginning.
Both are in the same bird family (Cracidae), but curassows are generally larger, often with more ornate crests and facial wattles, while guans are typically more slender.
It would be highly unusual unless you are specifically talking about tropical American wildlife. Most listeners would not know the word.
A tropical American bird of the curassow family, related to the pheasant.
Guan is usually specialist / scientific in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GUAN sounds like 'gone' – imagine the rare bird has 'gone' from most people's vocabulary.
Practice
Quiz
The word 'guan' primarily refers to: