Skua is a seabird of the Arctic and subarctic regions, typically messy-duck-sized and aggressive toward prey and competitors. As a noun, it refers to any bird of the Stercorarius genus, especially the Great Skua. The word is used in ornithology and field-guide contexts, with attention to its distinct, two-syllable pronunciation and clipped, brisk stress pattern.
"The skua swooped low over the waves, driving off gulls from a freshly caught fish."
"Researchers tagged a skua to study its migratory route across the North Atlantic."
"A skua pair nested nearby, and we kept a respectful distance to avoid harassment."
"In the field guide, the skua is described as a formidable, bold seabird with a piercing call."
Skua traces to the Old Norse skú, name for the bird, likely borrowed into Scottish and Icelandic usage before entering English ornithology. The term gained currency in 17th–18th century natural history texts as sailors and naturalists documented Arctic seabirds. The genus Stercorarius, to which skuas belong, comes from Latin stercorarius, meaning “of dung” or “excrement,” a reference to scavenging habits—or alternatively to the foul, aggressive kleptoparasitism characteristic of many skuas. Early English field guides adopted Skua to describe either Great Skua or Arctic Skua, with regional naming differences: “skú” in Norse-influenced dialects, “skvà” in some Scottish accounts. Over time, the word stabilized in ornithology to denote two main seabird species (Great and Arctic Skuas) within Stercorarius, and extended informally to other jaeger-like birds. In modern usage, skua retains a crisp, two-syllable rhythm (ˈskuː.ə) and is recognized as a loanword with strong syllabic emphasis on the first syllable.
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Words that rhyme with "Skua"
-w-a sounds
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Pronounce it with two syllables: SKOO-uh. IPA: US/UK/AU /ˈskuː.ə/. Start with a long 'oo' sound as in 'food', then rapidly reduce to a short, schwa-like 'ə' in the second syllable. Emphasize the first syllable. Listen for the crisp onset /sk-/ cluster, then the rounded /uː/ vowel before a light /ə/.
Common errors: (1) treating it as one syllable (SKOO-uh vs. SKUA as single); (2) shortening the /uː/ to a light /u/ or /ʊ/; (3) misplacing stress (placing stress on the second syllable). Correction: maintain two strong syllables with a long /uː/ in the first: /ˈskuː.ə/. Practice by saying 'skew-uh' slowly, then ‘SKOO-uh’ with full vowel length on /uː/.
In US, UK, and AU, the pronunciation remains /ˈskuː.ə/ with primary stress on the first syllable. The main variation is vowel quality: US tends toward a slightly tenser /uː/ and a crisper /sk/ onset; UK tends to a more clipped, fast /ˈskuː.ə/ with non-rhoticity affecting following consonants in connected speech; AU often maintains the same primary form but with less vowel length variance in fast speech. Overall, the vowel in /uː/ is lengthened in all, but rhythm and intonation differ.
Because it combines a consonant cluster at the start (/sk-/), a long high back vowel /uː/ that requires rounded lips, and a reduced final syllable /ə/. The transition from /uː/ to /ə/ is quick and can blur in rapid speech, making it easy to mispronounce as /ˈskuːə/ or /ˈskjuːə/. The two-syllable structure with a strong first syllable is essential for natural, native-like pronunciation.
Yes: the long /uː/ vowel in the first syllable and the short, reduced second syllable create a crisp, two-beat rhythm. The /sk/ cluster requires precise articulation without a heavy release before the /uː/. Many speakers incorrectly insert an extra syllable or reduce /uː/ to /u/; keeping the long /uː/ and a swift /ə/ is key.
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