hill mynah: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1specialist/technical, hobbyist
Quick answer
What does “hill mynah” mean?
A species of starling native to South and Southeast Asia, known for its glossy black plumage and exceptional ability to mimic human speech.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A species of starling native to South and Southeast Asia, known for its glossy black plumage and exceptional ability to mimic human speech.
A medium-sized, dark-plumaged bird of the starling family (Gracula religiosa) found in hill regions, highly valued as a talking cage bird and sometimes referenced metaphorically for its mimicry skills.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. British English occasionally uses the spelling 'hill myna' more frequently, while American English predominantly uses 'hill mynah'. Both variants are understood.
Connotations
Neutral and identical in both dialects; purely a zoological/avicultural term.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse in both regions. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British English due to historical colonial connections with the bird's native range.
Grammar
How to Use “hill mynah” in a Sentence
The hill mynah [verbs: mimics, speaks, lives]A [adjective: common, captive, trained] hill mynahVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hill mynah” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The aviary hopes to breed the rare hill mynah.
American English
- She managed to hill-mynah a perfect rendition of the phone ring. (Non-standard, creative/technical use)
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial use]
American English
- [No standard adverbial use]
adjective
British English
- He has a prized hill-mynah specimen in his collection.
American English
- The hill-mynah population is under threat from deforestation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in zoology, ecology, and animal behavior papers.
Everyday
Rare, except among bird enthusiasts, pet owners, or in regions where the bird is native.
Technical
Standard term in ornithology, aviculture, wildlife conservation, and veterinary medicine.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hill mynah”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hill mynah”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hill mynah”
- Misspelling: 'hill minah', 'hill miner'. Incorrect plural: 'hill mynahs' (accepted) vs. 'hill mynah' (often used as plural). Confusing it with the common myna (Acridotheres tristis), a different, less adept talking bird.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are different species. The hill mynah (Gracula religiosa) is a better mimic, has different facial wattles (yellow, not black), and prefers forested hill areas. The common myna (Acridotheres tristis) is an urban bird and a less skilled talker.
It does not 'talk' with understanding but is an exceptional mimic. It can accurately reproduce words, phrases, whistles, and other environmental sounds with remarkable clarity, often surpassing parrots in the precision of its mimicry.
They are found in hill forests and wooded areas across South and Southeast Asia, including parts of India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia.
The Latin name 'Gracula religiosa' likely stems from historical observations of these birds being kept in temples or monastic grounds, perhaps due to their impressive vocal abilities which were considered special or 'sacred'.
A species of starling native to South and Southeast Asia, known for its glossy black plumage and exceptional ability to mimic human speech.
Hill mynah is usually specialist/technical, hobbyist in register.
Hill mynah: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɪl ˌmaɪ.nə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɪl ˌmaɪ.nə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this term. General idioms about birds may apply metaphorically.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'The bird lives on a HILL and can be a MINER of sounds, digging up and copying noises.' (Mynah sounds like 'miner').
Conceptual Metaphor
A HILL MYNAH IS A MIMIC/COPYCAT: Used to represent uncanny or precise imitation of speech or mannerisms.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason for the hill mynah's popularity in the pet trade?