quelea
C2 - Very Low FrequencySpecialized, Technical (Ornithology, Agricultural Science), Literary/Figurative
Definition
Meaning
A small, seed-eating African weaverbird of the genus Quelea, known for forming immense flocks.
In extended use, can refer to something perceived as a plague or a mindless, destructive mass, often with negative connotations similar to 'locust'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a zoological/ornithological term. Its figuration is a metaphor based on the bird's real-world behavior as a major agricultural pest.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The bird is native to Africa, so usage is identical in both varieties when referring to it.
Connotations
Figurative use slightly more common in British English due to greater familiarity with African wildlife contexts in historical media.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general discourse in both varieties. Slightly higher frequency in technical/scientific writing on African agriculture or ornithology.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [ADJECTIVE] quelea [VERB: flocks/destroys/devours] [NOUN PHRASE].Farmers [VERB: combat/fight/control] [DETERMINER] quelea [NOUN: infestation/plague].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[no established idioms; potential figurative simile] 'descended like a plague of queleas'”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used. Hypothetically in agricultural commodity risk reports: 'Cereal crop forecasts are threatened by quelea infestations in sub-Saharan regions.'
Academic
Used in zoology, ecology, and agricultural science papers: 'The foraging efficiency of Quelea quelea flocks exceeds that of individual birds.'
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might occur in nature documentaries or travel writing about Africa.
Technical
Primary context. Used in pest control literature, ornithological guides, and ecological studies of bird migration and flock behaviour.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The fields were utterly queleaed overnight. (invented, figurative)
American English
- The crop was queleaed. (invented, figurative)
adjective
British English
- A quelea-like swarm of tourists descended on the village. (figurative)
American English
- The festival crowd had a quelea-esque density. (figurative)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We saw huge flocks of small birds in Africa called queleas.
- The red-billed quelea is considered one of the most destructive agricultural pests on the planet.
- Attempts to control quelea populations through culling have raised significant ecological and ethical concerns.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a QUEUE (line) of LEA(f)-eating birds. A 'Queue-Lea' -> 'Quelea' describes the long, endless lines of these birds descending on fields.
Conceptual Metaphor
A QUELEA IS A PLAGUE / A QUELEA IS A DESTRUCTIVE MASS (Source Domains: Nature, Disease).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'колибри' (hummingbird).
- There is no direct Russian common name. It is 'квелея' (transliteration) or described as 'африканский ткачик-вредитель'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'queleia', 'quelia'.
- Mispronunciation: /kwɛˈleɪə/ (incorrect stress).
- Assuming it's a common word or has general usage.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'quelea' primarily known for?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency, specialized term from ornithology and African agriculture.
Yes, though rarely. It can metaphorically describe any large, destructive, or mindless group, similar to 'locusts' or 'a plague'.
The standard plural is 'queleas'. In scientific contexts, you may also see 'quelea' used for both singular and plural.
Most learners will not need it for general communication. It is useful for specific academic interests in biology, ecology, agriculture, or for understanding advanced nature documentaries and writing.