quokka

[kwok-uh]

noun

1. a small wallaby, Setonix brachyurus, inhabiting islands and swampy areas in southwestern Australia.

quokka

/ ˈkwɒkə /

noun

1. a small wallaby, Setonix brachyurus , of Western Australia, occurring mostly on offshore islands

Word History and Origins

Origin of quokka¹

First recorded in 1860–65, quokka is from the Nyungar word kwaka

Word History and Origins

Origin of quokka¹

from a native Australian language

Example Sentences

Are 'quokka selfies' cause for concern?

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An 11-month-old quokka joey survived and is recovering in the zoo's health centre.

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“Kids see Jason on the cover with a cute little rottie — a magical version of the Australian quokka — and they ask about other magical animals in the book,” she said.

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We are famed for having some of the cutest animals on the planet — such as the koala and the quokka — as well as many of the world’s most dangerous.

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The study, led by the University of Leeds in Britain, Singapore Airlines and Western Australia’s tourism agency, featured videos of a quokka — a cuddly-looking wallaby native to Australia that the internet dubbed “the happiest animal on earth.”

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