vicuna

Everyday

1. A vicuna is a wild South American animal related to the llama and alpaca; it is small, slim and light brown, and lives high in the Andes mountains. tree →
2. Vicuna also means the very fine, soft, expensive wool or cloth made from this animal's fleece. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and science lessons on South America and mountain animals, the vicuna shows adaptation to cold and thin air. In history, the Inca protected vicunas; later they were hunted nearly to extinction for wool, and now they are protected again. Phrases: «vicuna wool», «herds of vicunas».

Examples

• A herd of vicunas grazed on the high, cold grassland. tree →
• The vicuna is a wild cousin of the llama. tree →
• Vicuna wool is one of the softest and most expensive wools in the world. tree →
• The vicuna is the national animal of Peru and is on its coat of arms. tree →
• Vicunas have thick, soft coats to keep warm in the Andes. tree →
• Hunting nearly wiped out the vicuna, but now it is protected. tree →

Note

Plural: vicunas. Spanish spelling: vicuña (say «vi-KOON-ya»); English often writes it without the wavy line. Do not confuse with the llama and alpaca (tame) or the guanaco (wild, bigger).