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European perch

European perch

7.4
A fresh water fish with a green body and red fins found in Europe and northern Asia
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : perca europea
  • Researchers studied the diet of the European perch in different river systems.

Examples

  • Anglers often prize the European perch for its fighting spirit and striking colors.

  • The lake is home to several species, including the European perch and pike.

  • Look at that beautiful European perch!

  • The European perch is a popular fish among anglers.

  • Anglers often prize the European perch for its fighting spirit and striking colors.

  • The European perch is known for its greenish body and distinctive red fins.

  • Researchers studied the behavior of the European perch in various freshwater habitats.

Synonyms

perch
vsEuropean perch
8 4.2

A freshwater fish with sharp fins that lives in lakes and rivers

is a single species rather than a general fish group
Perca fluviatilis
vsEuropean perch
  • UK
9.9

A freshwater fish with a greenish body and red fins found in Europe and northern Asia

is the common English name for that species

Surface Forms

Morphology

European + perch

The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'European' (from Europe) + 'perch' (a type of fish) yields a fish species associated with Europe. This compositional pattern is cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer it denotes a kind of perch found in Europe, even if they lack species-level knowledge.

Etymology

European perch may come from the image of the fish sitting on a branch like a bird at a perch. The word European simply shows where this kind of perch is found, so the name means 'a perch from Europe'.