[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/pygmy/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [P](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/p/) / pygmy

# pygmy

adjective (pygmy); noun (a pygmy, pygmies)

«pygmy» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (of animals and plants) A very small kind of a species, much smaller than its relatives, such as a pygmy hippo, pygmy goat or pygmy marmoset. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pygmy/#m1)
2. (often offensive) An old word for members of some peoples in Central Africa who are short; today people prefer to use the names of the peoples themselves, such as the Mbuti or Baka. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pygmy/#m2)
3. (informal, insulting) A person thought to be unimportant. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pygmy/#m3)

### In the lessons

In science and zoo topics, pygmy is part of animal names: pygmy hippo, pygmy seahorse, pygmy shrew, pygmy possum. In geography and history, children learn to name peoples respectfully. Phrases: pygmy hippopotamus, pygmy goat.

### Examples

- The pygmy hippo lives in the forests of West Africa. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pygmy/#x1)
- A pygmy seahorse is smaller than your fingernail. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pygmy/#x2)
- The farm had three cheeky pygmy goats. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pygmy/#x3)
- The pygmy marmoset is one of the smallest monkeys. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pygmy/#x4)
- The pygmy possum sleeps through the cold winter in Australia. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pygmy/#x5)
- Our guide used the name Baka for the forest people instead of an old label. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pygmy/#x6)
- "I am your enemy," answered the valiant Pygmy, in his mightiest squeak. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pygmy/#x7)

### Note

Plural pygmies. Also spelled pigmy. Safe to use for animals; for people, the word is often seen as insulting.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «pygmy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pygmy/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«pygmy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pygmy.html) on Mova free.