Kākāriki Parakeet
/ˌkaːkaːˈɾiki ˈpɛrəkiːt/noun
A small New Zealand parakeet of the genus Cyanoramphus, typically identified by green plumage.
Did you know?In Māori, kākāriki is also the ordinary word for the color green, linking the bird’s name directly to its vivid plumage rather than to an occult tradition.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-European Māori
Māori
kākā
“Parrot; a native New Zealand parrot”
Pre-European Māori
Māori
riki
“Small or little”
Pre-European Māori
Māori
kākāriki
“Small parrot; also green”
19th Century
Māori and English
kākāriki
“Name applied to New Zealand green parakeets”
19th Century
English
parakeet
“A small long-tailed parrot, from French perroquet”
Modern English
English
kākāriki parakeet
“Common English name for New Zealand Cyanoramphus parakeets”