Definition

A type of songbird found in the Old World, known for its brownish feathers and distinctive white throat and belly.

Example

The whitethroat sang beautifully in the early morning light.

Conversation

I saw a beautiful bird in the park yesterday.

Oh really? What kind was it?

I think it was a whitethroat; it had a lovely song.

That sounds amazing! I’d love to hear one sing.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Whitethroat → The word is formed from "white" (from Old English "hwita", meaning bright or light in color) and "throat" (from Old English "þrote", meaning the front part of the neck). The term "whitethroat" refers to a bird characterized by its distinctive white throat.

Memory Tip

Think of the color 'white' describing the bird's 'throat' — that's how you remember that a whitethroat has a white throat.

Visually Confused Words