okapi

American  

[oh-kah-pee] / oʊˈkɑ pi /

noun

plural

okapis,

plural

okapi

1. an African mammal, Okapia johnstoni, closely related to and resembling the giraffe, but smaller and with a much shorter neck.

---

okapi British  

/ əʊˈkɑːpɪ /

noun

1. a ruminant mammal, Okapia johnstoni, of the forests of central Africa, having a reddish-brown coat with horizontal white stripes on the legs and small horns: family Giraffidae

---

Etymology

Origin of okapi

1900; < Bambuba (Mvu’ba), a Central Sudanic language of the NE Democratic Republic of the Congo (or < a related Pygmy dial.), according to English Africanist Harry Johnston (1858–1927), author of the first zoological descriptions of the animal

Example Sentences

The zoo and its partners in the DRC, where the animals are protected by law, have been working to support the last remaining populations of okapi, which is endangered in the wild.

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2023

The okapi is the closest living relative of which African animal?

From Slate • Jun. 16, 2023

Discokeryx likely resembled an okapi, a forest-dwelling cousin of modern giraffes.

From New York Times • Jun. 2, 2022

In addition to those listed above were the flamingo, stork, wild boar, okapi and griffon vulture.

From Scientific American • Aug. 26, 2017

The woman deftly plucks out the few she needs, and then presses into Orleanna’s hand a gift: the tiny wooden okapi, perfectly carved.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver