guinea

Everyday

1. Guinea is most often heard in «guinea pig», a small furry pet rodent with no tail. tree →
2. A guinea pig can also mean a person used to test something new: Be my guinea pig for this recipe. tree →
3. A guinea was an old British gold coin worth a little more than a pound. tree →
4. Guinea (capital G) is a country in West Africa; Papua New Guinea and Equatorial Guinea are other countries. tree →

In the lessons

In science and pet-care lessons, guinea pigs are rodents, not pigs, and not from Guinea; they come from South America, need hay, fresh vegetables, vitamin C and company of other guinea pigs. In everyday speech, being a «guinea pig» means trying something out first. In geography: Guinea is in Africa, New Guinea is a big island north of Australia. Phrases: guinea pig, guinea fowl.

Examples

• Our class has two guinea pigs. tree →
• A guinea pig is a rodent, not a pig. tree →
• Guinea pigs love fresh hay and carrots. tree →
• I was the guinea pig for Mum's new soup. tree →
• Guinea is a country in West Africa. tree →
• A guinea was an old British coin. tree →
• Papua New Guinea is north of Australia. tree →
• Guinea pigs squeak when they are excited. tree →
• ‘There is a guinea for you,’ said he; ‘go and bring her here.’ tree →

Note

Pronounced GIN-ee (like «skinny» without the sk). Lower case in guinea pig; capital G for countries. A guinea pig is neither a pig nor from Guinea.