Macaque is a noun referring to a widely distributed genus of Old World monkeys, notable for their adaptive behaviors and varied facial features. In everyday speech, it names species such as the rhesus macaque and Japanese macaque. The term is used in scientific, educational, and casual contexts to discuss primates, wildlife, and related research.
"The macaque perched on a branch, eyeing the photographer."
"Researchers studied the social dynamics of the macaque troop in the rainforest."
"A macaque at the zoo startled visitors by picking through a pouch."
"She compared the macaque’s grooming habits to those of other primates in the exhibit."
The word macaque comes from the Portuguese macaque, which likely derives from the Hindi माकाक (mākā) or the Marathi माकळ (mākā). European explorers and naturalists adopted it in the 16th–18th centuries to label a variety of Old World monkeys, especially those in Asia and Africa encountered in colonial scientific reports. The term was gradually generalized to many species within the genus Macaca, though common English usage often refers specifically to certain species such as the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) and the cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis). The semantic core shifted from a local or group-name for a particular animal in certain Asian regions to a taxonomic term in zoological writing. Over time, “macaque” became a stable, widely recognized noun in English, used in biology, primatology, and popular media to denote several non-human primates that share certain morphological and behavioral traits, including cheek pouches, a wide range of gestural communication, and complex social structures. The pronunciation and spelling stabilized in English through transliteration practices of colonial-era natural history texts, with the modern form typically /məˈkæk/ in many dialects or α-ˈkæk in alternate pronunciations.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Macaque" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Macaque" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Macaque"
-tch sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Phonetic guide: /məˈkæk/. Stress on the second syllable. Start with a neutral schwa, then /ˈkæk/ as in cat, ending with a clear k sound. In many American and British speech, the last syllable is strong: mahl-kak? Not exactly—keep it concise: mah-KAK with the emphasis on KAK. Visualize: mu (soft) + KAK, tongue high for /k/ and a short, crisp vowel. Audio references: you can check Pronounce, Forvo, and YouGlish to hear examples in context.
Common errors include over-weakening the first syllable to a full schwa without enough energy, turning the second syllable into /kæk/ with a reduced vowel, or pronouncing it as ma-CUQUE with a French-influenced /kwa/. Correct approach: second syllable carries primary stress with /æ/ in /kæk/. Ensure the initial /mə/ is short and unstressed, and finish with a crisp /k/ release. Practice by saying mi-KAK slowly, then speed up while keeping the /æ/ quality and final /k/ crisp.
In US and UK, the core is /məˈkæk/ with stress on the second syllable. US tends to reduce the first vowel more (schwa), UK may preserve a slightly rounder initial vowel, and both share a strong final /k/. Australian speech often features a clipped /ə/ or a slightly broader starting vowel, but remains /məˈkæk/. The main contrast is the nucleus quality of the first syllable and the duration of the second syllable, not the final consonant.
The difficulty lies in balancing a light, unstressed initial /ə/ with a strong, tense second syllable /ˈkæk/. Many speakers struggle to assign primary stress correctly and to produce a crisp final /k/ without trailing voicing, especially when connected speech alters vowel length. The sequence /məˈkæk/ also requires precise timing: the transition from schwa to a short, bright /æ/ before the hard /k/ needs careful articulator control.
A unique point is the contrastive pairing of a weak initial schwa with a strong, clipped second syllable containing the /æ/ vowel. You’ll hear a clear pitch alignment that marks the stressed syllable. Remember to maintain a compact jaw position for the /k/ release and avoid turning the word into a two-syllable pseudo-word. Practicing with minimal pairs like macaque vs macaw can help anchor the vowel and rhythm.
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