koala

American  

[koh-ah-luh] / koʊˈɑ lə /

noun

1. a sluggish, tailless, gray, furry, arboreal marsupial, Phascolarctos cinereus, of Australia.

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koala British  

/ kəʊˈɑːlə /

noun

1. Also called (Austral): native bear.  a slow-moving Australian arboreal marsupial, Phascolarctus cinereus, having dense greyish fur and feeding on eucalyptus leaves and bark

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Etymology

Origin of koala

1800–10; erroneous spelling for earlier koola ( h ) (now obsolete) < Dharuk gú-la

Explanation

A koala is a small Australian animal that lives primarily in trees and is often mistaken for a bear. Koalas, not bears at all, are actually related to kangaroos. Koalas, like their kangaroo cousins, are marsupials, animals that carry their young in pouches. They do resemble bears, with their round bodies and ears, thick gray fur, stubby tails, and bear-like behavior. The name koala comes from the Australian Aboriginal language Dharug, in which this animal is called a gula. Koalas are famous for eating eucalyptus leaves and being generally adorable.

Example Sentences

He also features in a "dogumentary" called "Bear: Koala Hero", and in a book, "Bear to the Rescue".

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Kids and Koala Crisp Then the kids start to get up and trundle in — the younger ones, who are 12, 10 and 8.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 13, 2024

"There are no obvious signs of how or why Koala died," the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy said in a statement.

From BBC • Oct. 17, 2024

Elliott, who is legally blind and uses a black Labrador service guide dog named Koala, said fake emotional support dogs can interfere with her legitimate canine assistant.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 8, 2022

A terrible hullabaloo between a pair of Opossums up a neighbouring gum tree arrested the attention of both Dot and the Koala.

From Dot and the Kangaroo by Pedley, Ethel C.