orang

Everyday

1. Short for orangutan, the large red-haired ape of Borneo and Sumatra. tree →
2. (Malay, Indonesian) «Orang» means «person» or «people»; orangutan means «person of the forest». tree →

In the lessons

In science and geography lessons on rainforests and endangered animals: orangutans are great apes that live in trees, and are in danger from forests being cut down for palm oil. «Orang» on its own is a short, less common form. It is not related to the colour orange.

Examples

• The orang swung from branch to branch. tree →
• Orangs build a new nest of leaves every night. tree →
• «Orangutan» comes from Malay words meaning «person of the forest». tree →
• In Malay, «orang» means person. tree →
• The zoo has two orangs and a baby. tree →
• Orangs are in danger because their forests are being cut down. tree →

Note

Countable. Spelling trap: «orangutan» (also orang-utan), not «orangutang». Not the same as «orange». Use «an» before it.