kiwi

Everyday

1. A kiwi is a small brown bird from New Zealand that cannot fly; it has a long beak with nostrils at the tip and hunts at night. tree →
2. A kiwi, or kiwi fruit, is an oval fruit with brown hairy skin and bright green flesh with tiny black seeds. tree →
3. A Kiwi (with a capital K, informal) is a person from New Zealand. tree →

In the lessons

In science, the kiwi bird is a flightless bird like the emu and ostrich; it is nocturnal, smells its food (worms and insects) and lays a very large egg for its size; it is endangered and protected. In everyday life kiwi fruit is a healthy snack rich in vitamin C. New Zealanders proudly call themselves Kiwis; the bird is the national symbol. Phrases: «kiwi fruit», «a Kiwi».

Examples

• The kiwi is a bird that cannot fly. tree →
• Kiwis come out at night to look for worms. tree →
• I had a kiwi fruit in my lunchbox. tree →
• Cut the kiwi in half and scoop it out with a spoon. tree →
• My cousin is a Kiwi; she lives in Auckland. tree →
• The kiwi is the national bird of New Zealand. tree →
• Kiwi birds lay huge eggs for their size. tree →
• Dogs and stoats are dangerous for kiwis. tree →

Note

Plural kiwis. «Kiwi» meaning a person from New Zealand is written with a capital K and is friendly, not rude. The fruit used to be called «Chinese gooseberry»; it was renamed after the bird.