# nightingale

/ˈnaɪtɪŋɡeɪɫ/ (US) · /nˈaɪtɪŋɡˌeɪl/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nightingale
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a small brown bird that is famous for its beautiful singing. You usually hear it at night during the spring and summer.

For teachers: a small migratory passerine bird of the thrush family, noted for the powerful and melodious song of the male, often heard at night. Frequently used in literary contexts as a symbol of beauty or melancholy.

## Examples

- We heard a nightingale singing in the woods last night.
- The nightingale is often heard in the dense thickets of southern England during the late spring months.
- Poets throughout history have celebrated the nightingale for its nocturnal song, often casting the bird as a solitary voice of longing in the darkness of the forest.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.