tody: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Ornithological
Quick answer
What does “tody” mean?
A small, colourful insectivorous bird native to the West Indies.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, colourful insectivorous bird native to the West Indies.
Any bird of the family Todidae, comprising the genus Todus, characterised by a long, thin beak and bright plumage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The word is used identically by ornithologists and birders in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral, purely scientific/technical. May evoke images of the Caribbean tropics.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Equally rare in both varieties, appearing only in specialised contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “tody” in a Sentence
[species name] tody (e.g., Cuban tody)tody of [location] (e.g., tody of Hispaniola)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in zoology and ornithology papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used, except by birdwatchers or in travel writing about the Caribbean.
Technical
Standard term in bird taxonomy and field guides.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tody”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tody”
- Misspelling as 'today'.
- Pronouncing it /ˈtɒ.di/ (as in 'body').
- Using it as a general adjective.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not related. 'Tody' is from the genus name Todus, while 'today' comes from Old English.
Only if you are specifically talking about these particular birds from the Caribbean. It is not a word for general conversation.
In British English: /ˈtəʊ.di/. In American English: /ˈtoʊ.di/. It rhymes with 'toady'.
In the wild, only on certain islands in the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola). In captivity, they are very rare.
A small, colourful insectivorous bird native to the West Indies.
Tody is usually technical / ornithological in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a tiny, TINY bird on a TOtally DIscrete island (the West Indies). TO-DY.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A for highly specific technical terms.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'tody'?