alpaca

Everyday

1. An alpaca is a South American animal like a small llama, with a long neck and very soft, thick wool. tree →
2. Alpaca is also the soft wool from this animal, used for jumpers, scarves and blankets. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and science lessons, alpacas come from the Andes mountains in Peru, Bolivia and Chile, where people have kept them for thousands of years for wool. They are herbivores, live in herds and can spit when annoyed (more often at each other). Alpaca farms and walks are now popular in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Phrases: «alpaca wool», «alpaca farm», «llamas and alpacas».

Examples

• The alpaca has a fluffy fringe over its eyes. tree →
• Grandma knitted me a scarf from alpaca wool. tree →
• Alpacas live high in the Andes mountains. tree →
• We went for a walk with alpacas on the farm. tree →
• An alpaca is smaller than a llama. tree →
• Alpacas hum to talk to each other. tree →

Note

Use «an»: «an alpaca». Plural «alpacas». Trap: alpacas and llamas are cousins, not the same: alpacas are smaller, with shorter pointed ears, and are kept for wool; llamas are bigger and carry loads.