You might guess that an orangutan is named for its color. In reality, the name of this ape derives from Malay terms that mean “man of the forest.” This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Orangutan Origin”
Grant, how do you say the name of that big orange ape?
Oh no, no!
What?
How do I say the name of the big orange ape?
Yeah.
I grew up saying it incorrectly.
Did you?
Orangutan.
As if there was a G at the end.
Yeah, I did too.
I did too.
But it’s orangutan?
-huh, orangutan.
Yeah.
But I didn’t realize until recently that it doesn’t have anything to do with its being orange, the spelling of the word.
No, no.
It’s the man of the forest or something like that.
Yeah, yeah.
It’s Malay Orang Utan, which means man of the forest.
Exactly.
And they’re beautiful animals.
Yeah.
And they’re orange.
