: a tailless semiaquatic South and Central American rodent (Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris) often exceeding four feet (1.2 meters) in length
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There's capybaras named after food, an Asian elephant named after Kirby Drive and California sea lions named for donors.—Peter Warren, Houston Chronicle, 8 May 2026 The only rodent larger than the beaver is the capybara of Central and South America.—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 7 May 2026 The Sacramento Zoo welcomed a litter of capybara pups last weekend, zoo officials announced Monday.—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2026 The father of both litters is Goomba, the resident male capybara at the zoo.—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for capybara
Word History
Etymology
Portuguese capibara, capivara, alteration of capiiuara, from Tupi kapiʔiwara, from kapíʔi grass, brush + -wara eater