gorilla

Everyday

1. A gorilla is the largest kind of ape, a very strong, mostly gentle animal with dark fur that lives in the forests of central Africa. tree →
2. Informally, a gorilla can mean a big, rough, frightening man (not kind to say). tree →

In the lessons

In science gorillas appear in lessons about apes, primates, habitats, food chains and endangered animals: they eat mostly plants, live in family groups led by a big male called a silverback, and are protected because they are endangered. In stories they can stand for great strength. Phrases: «mountain gorilla», «silverback gorilla», «gorilla family».

Examples

• The gorilla sat quietly eating leaves. tree →
• A male gorilla can weigh more than two grown men. tree →
• We watched the gorillas at the zoo. tree →
• Gorillas beat their chests to show strength or to warn others. tree →
• Mountain gorillas are endangered and need protection. tree →
• The baby gorilla clung to its mother's back. tree →
• Gorillas are apes, not monkeys, because they have no tail. tree →
• People who hunt gorillas are breaking the law. tree →
• The Judge was a Monkey, a large Gorilla venerable with age. tree →

Note

Countable: «a gorilla», «gorillas». Homophone trap: «guerrilla» (a fighter in a small army) sounds the same. Gorillas are apes, not monkeys. Myth: gorillas are not usually aggressive; they mostly avoid trouble.