capybara

American  

[kap-uh-bahr-uh] / ˌkæp əˈbɑr ə /

Or capibara

noun

capybaras plural

1. a South American tailless rodent, Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris, living along the banks of rivers and lakes, having partly webbed feet: the largest living rodent.

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capybara British  

/ ˌkæpɪˈbɑːrə /

noun

1. the largest rodent: a pig-sized amphibious hystricomorph, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, resembling a guinea pig and inhabiting river banks in Central and South America: family Hydrochoeridae

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• capybaras
  plural

Etymology

Origin of capybara

1765–75; < New Latin < Portuguese capibara < Tupi

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

capybara capybaras

Two rare snow leopard cubs have been born at the park, alongside Himalayan monals and red deer, as well as Bru the capybara, Snoot the giant armadillo and Atty the sloth at Edinburgh Zoo.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

Older residents and long-serving zoo staff remember another capybara that evaded capture for more than two months along the same stretch of river.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

Moores has taken his drones out as many as 30 times, mostly at night and in the early morning, when thermal imaging works better—and the capybara, a crepuscular species, is most active.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

Aidar had called the capybara “princess” in a way that sounded like a term of endearment for all female capybaras, so I asked for the capybara’s formal name.

From Slate ● May 27, 2026

If the pack overtook a capybara, they of course speedily finished it; but a single dog of our not very valorous outfit was not able to overmatch its shrill-squeaking opponent.

From Through the Brazilian Wilderness by Roosevelt, Theodore

On social media, people have gotten even more creative, photoshopping capybaras into Southampton destinations like pubs, shopping malls and the local soccer club’s stadium.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

It’s one of the largest concentrations of capybaras in São Paulo, though its exact number of members fluctuates.

From Slate ● May 27, 2026

If you’re visiting São Paulo and want to see capybaras, the São Paulo Zoo is your only guarantee.

From Slate ● May 27, 2026

Watching a capybara come when called is a highly Instagrammable moment, my in-person proof that capybaras have rightfully earned their status as a 2020s internet meme.

From Slate ● May 27, 2026

In these waters the capybaras and small caymans paid no attention to one another, swimming and resting in close proximity.

From Through the Brazilian Wilderness by Roosevelt, Theodore