sparrow
UK: ˈspær.əʊ | US: ˈspær.oʊ
n. a small, common songbird with brownish plumage, often found in urban and rural areas.
The word "sparrow" traces back to Old English spearwa, a term for small birds, likely imitative of their chirping sounds. Over time, the spelling evolved to "sparow" in Middle English, later standardized as "sparrow." The morpheme spar- preserves the original Germanic root, while -row may reflect a diminutive or dialectal variation. The word’s simplicity and onomatopoeic undertones align with its Germanic origins, where bird names often mimicked natural sounds.
A sparrow built its nest under our roof.
Sparrows hopped around the park benches, searching for crumbs.
The old tree was alive with the chatter of sparrows.
She scattered seeds to attract sparrows to her garden.
Urban sparrows adapt remarkably well to human environments.