Skip to main content
golden oriole

golden oriole

7.5
A bright yellow songbird with black wings that lives in Europe and North Africa
  • noun
  • /ˈɡoʊldən ˈɔriˌoʊl/
  • UK
translation icon : oriol dorado
  • I saw a beautiful golden oriole in the park.

Examples

  • Every spring, birdwatchers eagerly anticipate the arrival of the golden oriole in the woods.

  • A flash of yellow revealed the presence of a golden oriole near the river.

  • The golden oriole stood out brilliantly among the green leaves.

  • The golden oriole sings sweetly in the morning.

  • During spring, the golden oriole fills the air with its melodic singing as it flits among the tree branches.

  • I spotted a golden oriole perched on a branch, its vibrant yellow feathers shimmering in the sunlight.

  • The golden oriole is often seen in gardens where it searches for insects and fruits to eat.

Synonyms

Oriolus oriolus
vsgolden oriole
  • Specialized
9.9

A bright yellow bird with black wings that sings and lives in Europe and western Asia

is native across Eurasia and North Africa rather than only Europe and western Asia

Surface Forms

golden oriole singular

Morphology

golden + oriole

The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'golden' describes the colour and 'oriole' names the bird, so the combined meaning (a yellow/golden-coloured oriole) is directly derivable from the parts. This follows a common and cross-linguistically familiar pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand it.

Etymology

Golden oriole gets its name from its bright yellow golden color and from the word oriole, used for a small 'singing bird'. So the name gives the clear image of a little golden songbird, which is why we call this bright yellow bird a golden oriole today.