Kākāpō
/ˈkaːkaːpɔː/noun
A large, flightless, nocturnal parrot native to New Zealand.
Did you know?The kākāpō is one of the world’s rarest birds and is culturally treasured by Māori as a taonga, or precious cultural treasure.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Polynesian
Proto-Polynesian
*kaka
“Parrot or parrot-like bird; the precise ancient form is reconstructed rather than directly recorded.”
Proto-Polynesian
Proto-Polynesian
*poo
“Night or darkness; this form developed into pō in Māori.”
Pre-European Māori
Māori
kākā
“The New Zealand parrot, named with a reduplicated form associated with the bird.”
Pre-European Māori
Māori
pō
“Night or darkness.”
18th–19th Century
Māori
kākāpō
“Literally “night parrot,” referring to the bird’s nocturnal behavior.”
Modern English
English
kakapo / kākāpō
“The Māori loanword used in English for this flightless nocturnal parrot.”