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whooper: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

C2
UK/ˈhuːpə/US/ˈhuːpər/

informal, zoological

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Quick answer

What does “whooper” mean?

One who whoops.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

One who whoops; a person or animal that makes a loud, excited cry.

Refers specifically to a type of large swan (Cygnus cygnus) known for its loud, trumpeting call; or informally, to a person who achieves something impressive, causing excitement or celebration.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Both varieties use the term primarily for the swan. The informal 'person' sense is slightly more attested in British English.

Connotations

Neutral in ornithology; playful or colloquial when applied to a person.

Frequency

Low-frequency word overall. Most common in birdwatching contexts and specific geographical regions where the bird is found.

Grammar

How to Use “whooper” in a Sentence

The [observer] spotted a whooperA [flock] of whoopers [verb]The [call/sound] of a whooper

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
whooper swana flock of whoopersthe call of a whooper
medium
spotted a whooperwhooper's neckwintering whoopers
weak
noisy whooperwild whoopersingle whooper

Examples

Examples of “whooper” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • This isn't a verb.

American English

  • This isn't a verb.

adverb

British English

  • This isn't an adverb.

American English

  • This isn't an adverb.

adjective

British English

  • We went on a whooper swan survey.
  • He let out a whooper of a laugh.

American English

  • A whooper swan population was recorded.
  • That's a whooper of a mistake.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Virtually never used.

Academic

Used in zoology, ornithology, and environmental science texts.

Everyday

Rare, except among birdwatchers or in regions where the bird is common.

Technical

Standard term in bird taxonomy and field guides.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “whooper”

Strong

whooper swanCygnus cygnus

Neutral

trumpeter

Weak

noisy birdlarge swan

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “whooper”

mute swan

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “whooper”

  • Misspelling as 'whopper' (which is a large thing or a lie).
  • Incorrectly assuming it is a person who 'whoops' (cries out) in all contexts.
  • Using plural 'whooper' without an 's' (correct plural: whoopers).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

In ornithology, yes. 'Whooper' is the standard abbreviated form for the whooper swan among birdwatchers and in field guides.

Yes, but it is very informal, humorous, and quite rare. The primary meaning remains the bird.

The whooper swan has a loud, musical, trumpeting call and a yellow and black beak. The mute swan is generally quieter (hissing) and has an orange and black beak.

It is 'whooper' with one 'p'. 'Whopper' with two 'p's is a different word meaning something very large or a blatant lie.

One who whoops.

Whooper is usually informal, zoological in register.

Whooper: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhuːpə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhuːpər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “a real whooper (informal, rare: meaning a remarkable thing or success)”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

"WHOOper shouts 'WHOOp!' loudly, just like the loud swan."

Conceptual Metaphor

LOUDNESS IS NOTICEABLE IMPACT (The bird's loud call metaphorically extends to a person who causes a stir.)

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The loud, trumpeting call across the loch confirmed the presence of a swan.
Multiple Choice

In informal British English, 'a real whooper' can mean:

whooper: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples | Lingvocore