langur
C2Technical/Formal
Definition
Meaning
A slender, long-tailed Asian monkey.
Any of various leaf-eating monkeys of the subfamily Colobinae, found in South and Southeast Asia, often with distinctive facial markings and residing in forest habitats.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is specific to zoology and wildlife contexts. It denotes a taxonomic group rather than a single species (e.g., Hanuman langur, François' langur).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage differences; the term is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Scientific/zoological; evokes images of exotic wildlife, conservation, or nature documentaries.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general discourse; used primarily in specialized contexts like biology, zoology, wildlife conservation, and travel writing about Asia.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [adjective] langur [verb].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in biological, zoological, ecological, and anthropological research papers.
Everyday
Extremely rare; might occur in travel stories or wildlife documentaries.
Technical
Standard term in primatology, taxonomy, and wildlife conservation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We saw a monkey in the tree. It was a langur.
- The grey langur has a long tail and lives in India.
- Conservationists are working to protect the endangered François' langur from habitat loss.
- The langur's specialised stomach, adapted for fermenting leaves, is a key subject of primatological study.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A LANG-UR (longer) tail helps the langur swing through the trees.'
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'лангуст' (langoustine, ракообразное). Langur — обезьяна, а не омар.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing as /ˈlæŋɡər/ (like 'anger').
- Using as a general term for any monkey.
Practice
Quiz
What is a langur?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Langurs are Old World monkeys native to Asia, primarily leaf-eaters. Baboons are larger, ground-dwelling monkeys native to Africa and Arabia.
The Hanuman langur (or grey langur) is one of the most widespread and culturally significant in India, often featured in mythology.
No. The term is taxonomically restricted to specific Asian primates. Using it for New World monkeys (like capuchins) or African monkeys (like vervets) is incorrect.
No. It is a low-frequency, specialized term. The average English speaker is more likely to use a general term like 'monkey' unless discussing specific zoology or travel.