kudu

noun

ku·​du ˈkü-(ˌ)dü 

variants or less commonly koodoo

plural kudu or kudus also koodoo or koodoos

: a large grayish brown African antelope (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) with large annulated spirally twisted horns

also : a related antelope (T. imberbis)

Illustration of kudu

Examples of kudu in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Game drives offered sightings of kudu, giraffe, zebra, and impala. —Melanie Van Zyl, AFAR Media, 16 June 2025

My heart started hammering when Will climbed onto a rocky bluff to spy on a troop of baboons and came within feet of a massive kudu. —Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 13 June 2025

Powered by the automatic caliber HMC 201 movement manufactured by Precision Engineering AG and paired to a handsome purple kudu leather strap, this is a watch for a discerning collector unafraid of just a touch of whimsy. —Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2025

But silently paddling past undisturbed waterbuck and kudu reveals a hidden world. —Alexandra Owens, AFAR Media, 10 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Afrikaans koedoe, from Khoikhoi kudu-b, kudu-s

First Known Use

1777, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

kudu

noun

ku·​du

variants also koodoo

ˈküd-(ˌ)ü

plural kudu or kudus also koodoo or koodoos

: a large grayish brown African antelope with long twisted horns