Spanish Conversation · Level 13
90 words
Spanish word
vicuña
Pronunciation
IPA/biˈkuɲa/
Meaning
- feminine nounvicuna
Example
La vicuña vive en las alturas de los Andes.
The vicuna lives in the highlands of the Andes.
More examples
¿Has visto alguna vez una vicuña en un zoológico o en una exposición?
Have you ever seen a vicuna in a zoo or at an exhibition?
Core concept
High-altitude camelid prized for ultra-soft wool.
Similar words
alpaca: Domesticated camelid with abundant, soft fleece bred widely for wool production.
llama: Large, sturdy domestic camelid kept as a pack animal and for farm work or tourism.
guanaco: Wild Andean camelid living in natural herds with little human domestication.
Definition in Spanish
Especie de camélido nativa de los Andes, de pelaje muy fino y protegida por su importancia textil y ecológica.
Word origin
Borrowed into Spanish from Quechua wikuña, the native term for the species.
Usage tips
- Often appears on product labels as 'lana de vicuña' or 'fibra de vicuña' to indicate the textile rather than the live animal and is usually treated as feminine (la vicuña).