springbok

Everyday

1. A springbok is a small, fast antelope (a deer-like animal) of southern Africa, brown and white, famous for jumping high into the air. tree →
2. The Springboks are the national rugby union team of South Africa, named after the animal. tree →

In the lessons

In science and geography lessons springboks appear in African savannah food chains and animal adaptations: they leap straight up, "pronking", maybe to show predators they are strong. In sport talk the Springboks are a famous rugby team who won the Rugby World Cup several times. The springbok is a national symbol of South Africa.

Examples

• A springbok can jump higher than a grown-up's head. tree →
• Cheetahs and lions hunt springboks. tree →
• Springboks live on dry grasslands in southern Africa. tree →
• The Springboks beat New Zealand in the final. tree →
• We saw a herd of springboks on the safari video. tree →
• The springbok is South Africa's national animal. tree →
• When scared, springboks leap with stiff legs; this is called pronking. tree →

Note

Plural: springboks (sometimes springbok). From Afrikaans/Dutch: "spring" (jump) + "bok" (antelope or goat). With a capital S, it means the rugby team.