The Word Koala Means No Water

The word koala means “No Water” and koalas are called koalas because of the simplest fact that they do not bother to drink water throughout their lives. Almost all dictionaries fail to explain the real background meaning of the word koala but rather they explain the word koala as the animal koala i.e., the marsupial mammal having the greyish brown fur and the largest arboreal belonging to the Australian continent.

The word Koala means “No Water”. The Word koala has emerged from the aboriginal and native languages of Australia. The aboriginals also named koalas on the basis of the fact that the animal doesn’t drink water.

The word koala has emerged from the Australian aboriginal languages. Interestingly; the aboriginal and native people of Australia were the first ones to discover koalas and on the basis of the koalas’ habitat which rarely involves water, the aboriginals named this animal such a name which either meant no water, lacking in water or not requiring water etc.

The Word Koala means no water or lacking water
The word koala mean "No Water". Since koalas do not drink water therefore; they are named on the basis of this simplest fact for not drinking water. Photo courtesy of  

Word Koala Meaning
No Water Koalas Don't Drink Water
At the Water Holes Dictionaries Explain Word Koala
As a Marsupial Mammal Dictionaries Fail to Explain
Background Meaning of Koala Emergence of Word Koala
From Aboriginal Australian Languages

Meaning of the Word Koala
The Word Koala Meaning emerged from the native Australia Language. This Picture belongs to 

As mentioned earlier; the word koala has emerged from the native Australian languages and it only became part of the English language after the arrival of the European settlers at the Australian continent. According to the encyclopedia, the word koala became part of the English dictionary in 19th century.

The word koala became part of the English dictionary during the 19th century. Initially; the word koala was termed as koola within the dictionaries but later it was modified as koala.

Initially; the word koola was used in dictionary for koalas during the first decade of the 19th century. The word koola for koalas was also derived from the aboriginal languages of Australia which also meant �no water or lacking in water�. Later in the modern English the word was modified from koola to koala by the zoologists and botanists.

Word Koala emerged from aboriginal Australian langauges
The word koala also emerged from the aboriginal and native languages of Australia. Photo courtesy of  

Word Koala as Part of Dictionary
During the 19th Century Old Word for Koala was
Koola (Old Dictionaries) Word Koola also Meant
No Water or Lacking in Water Word Koola also Emerged from
Aboriginal Languages of Australia

The Word Koala means No Water.
Word Koala Specifically Means No Water. Koalas hardly drink any water but rather they fulfill their requirements through Eucalyptus Leaves. This Picture belongs to 

Historically; the aboriginal and native Australian inhabitants have also reserved various names for koalas. Surprisingly; more than half a dozen names for koalas have been found within the aboriginal Australian languages. All of these names for koalas also meant “No Water”, “Lacking Water”, “Without Wine” or “Without Water” etc.

The aboriginal and native Australian languages have more than half a dozen names for koalas. All of these names meant no water or lacking in water.

These aboriginal and native names of koalas include Kaola, Koalo, Koolewang, Koobor, Colah, Coola and Cullawine etc. The diversity of the koala names within the aboriginal languages of Australia truly indicates that koalas were a lot popular among the native inhabitants of Australia. On the other hand; the European settlers became interested in koalas almost 10 years later after their arrival in Australia.

Koala names in native and aboriginal languages of Australia.
The aboriginal and native languages of Australia had half a dozen dedicated names for koalas. Photo courtesy of  

Aboriginal Australian Languages have
Half a Dozen Names of Koalas All Older Names of Koalas
Meant No Water Older Names = Kaola, Kaolo, Koolewang
Koobor, Colah, Coola & Cullawine Koalas' Diversified Names
Means Koalas were also very Popular

Word Koala Refers to Water Requirements.
Aboriginal and native languages had half a dozen native names for koalas and all of them meant no water, lacking in water or not requiring water etc. Photo courtesy of 

But is it really true that koalas do not drink water at all and they have never been witnessed drinking water near the waterholes in the wild? The answer is yes! The name of koala very much sums up its reputation because you may never see a real koala drinking water at the waterholes.

Koalas have never been witnessed drinking water in the wild and their name which means “no water” lives up to the reputation.

There is no wildlife documentary or footage which shows a koala drinking water in the normal circumstances. On the other hand; the Eucalyptus leaves which are considered as the sole diet of koalas contain 55% of water compounds. Koalas fulfill all their water requirements by consuming the Eucalyptus leaves.

Koalas Never Been Seen
Drinking Water from Water Holes No Wildlife Footage Shows
Koalas Drinking Water Koalas Fulfill Water Requirements
From Eucalyptus Leaves

Koalas never drink water from the waterholes.
Koalas have never been witnessed to drink water from waterholes. Rather they fulfill their water requirements through their sole diet i.e., The Eucalyptus leaves. Photo courtesy of 

However; on rare occasions you may also see koalas near the water fountains in Australia to drink water. These moments only occur during the times of bushfires, droughts or habitat loss. Bushfires are very common in Australia and they are threatening the existence of koalas across Australia. Most of the koalas die in bushfires, however; some of them which survive usually move to the urban areas, where they can be spotted drinking water from fountains because of severe thirst and possible dehydration.

Recently; some videos have emerged, where koalas can be seen drinking water from the fountains to quench their thirst. Such rare events may happen accidentally during the Australian bushfires.

Apart from these incidents; you may never witness any koala near waterholes or fountains etc. It is assumed that aboriginal Australian would have known and named koalas for not drinking water because they failed to ambush them near the waterholes.

Koalas may Drink Water
On Rare Occasions Koalas may Drink Water
In Droughts Koalas may also Drink Water
During Bushfires

Koalas may rarely drink water on rare occasions.
On rare occasions such as droughts or bushfires, koalas may rarely be seen drinking water from the fountains or waterholes etc. Photo courtesy of 

Lastly; koalas are perhaps one of the very few animal species whose name is related with water. Other animals whose names are related with water or aqua include Sea Horses, Sea Urchins and Water Bears etc. (and there might be many more).

Koalas are the only animals whose name negates water (based upon their wildlife) and amongst very few animals whose name is aqua related.

But none of their names negate drinking water as part of their lifestyle. Therefore; koalas are the only animal within the animal kingdom whose name negates water and also one of the very few animals whose names are based upon their factual lifestyle for not drinking water at all.

Koalas are Only Animal
That are Named for Not Drinking Water Other Animal Names with Water
Sea Horses, Sea Urchins, Water Bears etc. The Word & Name Koala
Negates Water

Koalas named for not drinking water.
Koalas are perhaps the only animal in the world who are named for not drinking water. Photo courtesy of