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Glite Dictionary
pirarucu

pirarucu

1 9.9
A very large freshwater fish from the Amazon River eaten for its meat
  • noun
  • /ˌpɪrəˈruːku/
translation icon : pirarucú
  • The pirarucu can reach lengths of over 3 meters, making it one of the largest freshwater fish.

Examples

  • The pirarucu is known for its large size and is a popular dish in Amazonian cuisine.

  • Dried and salted pirarucu was an Amazonian codfish substitute that served both the region and export markets.

    Academic text (2001)

  • An aerial view of the Jurua River, a major tributary of the Amazon and one of the habitats of the Pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish in South America, September 1, 2012.

    Blog text (17)

  • Some fishermen specialize in catching pirarucu due to its tasty meat and high market value.

Synonyms

paiche
vspirarucu
  • US
9.9

A very large freshwater fish from the Amazon River that grows over two metres long

is prized for edible meat rather than focus on fishery importance
arapaima
vspirarucu
9.9

A very large freshwater fish from the Amazon and other South American rivers

is native specifically to the Amazon and valued for its meat

Surface Forms

pirarucu singular
pirarucus plural

Etymology

Pirarucu comes from an Indigenous Amazon language where pira means 'fish' and açu (often heard as ruçu) means 'big'. So pirarucu literally means 'big fish', which fits this very large Amazon fish prized for its meat.