Word
tilapia
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a common freshwater fish with mild white flesh that people farm and eat around the world.
n. a freshwater cichlid fish of the genus Oreochromis and related genera, widely farmed for food. Flesh is white, mild-flavoured, and low in fat.
Examples
“We eat tilapia with rice every Friday.”
“The market sells fresh tilapia from local farms at a price most families can afford.”
“Because tilapia grows quickly in warm ponds and eats cheap plant feed, farmers in many countries raise it as an affordable source of protein.”
Examples
simple
“We eat tilapia with rice every Friday.”
contextual
“The market sells fresh tilapia from local farms at a price most families can afford.”
complex
“Because tilapia grows quickly in warm ponds and eats cheap plant feed, farmers in many countries raise it as an affordable source of protein.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “tilapia” in context.
Verb
01. bake tilapia
“You can bake tilapia with tomatoes for a healthy dinner.”
verb + noun
02. fry tilapia
“My mother usually fries tilapia until the skin is crisp.”
verb + noun
03. grill tilapia
“He likes to grill tilapia with garlic and olive oil.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. farmed tilapia
“Most farmed tilapia in our market comes from local fish ponds.”
adj + noun
05. fresh tilapia
“We bought fresh tilapia at the morning market.”
adj + noun
06. frozen tilapia
“She keeps frozen tilapia in the freezer for quick meals.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. piece of tilapia
“She put a small piece of tilapia on each plate.”
noun + prep + noun
08. plate of tilapia
“He ordered a hot plate of tilapia with chips.”
noun + prep + noun
09. bake tilapia in the oven
“You can bake tilapia in the oven for about fifteen minutes.”
10. farm-raised tilapia fillets
“Farm-raised tilapia fillets are cheap and easy to cook.”
11. grilled tilapia with lemon
“We had grilled tilapia with lemon and steamed vegetables for lunch.”
12. mild white fish like tilapia
“My kids prefer mild white fish like tilapia to salmon.”
Usage
Plural is 'tilapia' or 'tilapias'; uncountable when referring to the flesh as food.
Real-World Examples
“Tilapia has become a clear choice—it's delicious and accessible for everyone," he explained, noting that he sells a large tilapia for £5, compared to a large cod priced at £9.40.” “Tilapia is abundant in Brazil's rivers and fish farms, which are expanding rapidly as demand grows for the mildly flavored freshwater fish.” “Mr Ochieng lost all his 120,000 tilapia, of which half were almost ready for harvest.” “Tilapia, a fish abundant in Brazil's rivers and rapidly growing fish farms due to rising demand for its mild flavor, is being explored as a viable alternative.” Etymology
Learned borrowing from taxonomic name Tilapia, from Tswana tlhapi (“fish”). The drag race slang usage is a reference to the comment by Gia Gunn on entering Ru Paul's Drag Race (season 6) "Just landed like fresh tilapia".
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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