(chiefly, North America) The coypu, .
Photograph: WWL Louisiana [View image in fullscreen](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/13/neuty-the-nutria-dies-cancer#img-1) Neuty the nutria became a Lousiana legend after his family fought the state to kee…
# Nutria Nutria Semi-aquatic rodent from South America For the color, see [Nutria (color)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutria_(color) "Nutria (color)").
(chiefly, North America) The coypu, .
1986, Identifying and Managing Aquatic Rodents in Texas, Texas Agricultural Extension Service, [https://books.google.com.au/books?id=Uc5PAQAAMAAJ&q=%22nutria%22%7C%22nutrias%22&dq=%22nutria%22%7C%22nutrias%22&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=…
"nutria" means the coypu, . It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.
"nutria" means the coypu, . It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
Add your own interpretation of "nutria".
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
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Cut open along the back (left), along the belly part (right). **Nutria fur** is a type of fur obtained from the [nutria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutria "Nutria"), which is also known as the **coypu**, beaver rat…
"nutria" is informal English meaning the coypu, . It is used widely across English varieties. A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "the coypu" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake is to assume "nutria" can replace its standard equivalent in every register; keep it for spoken or casual situations and use the formal form in writing. If you are a B2 or C1 learner, it is useful to recognise this word when you hear or read it, but think carefully about whether the situation really calls for it before using it yourself.
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The fur of the coypu.
: Nutria are native to South America and were successfully established in North America in the early 1930s as a new furbearing species.
“Photograph: WWL Louisiana [View image in fullscreen](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/13/neuty-the-nutria-dies-cancer#img-1) Neuty the nutria became a Lousiana legend after his family fought the state to keep him as a pet.”
“# Nutria Nutria Semi-aquatic rodent from South America For the color, see [Nutria (color)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutria_(color) "Nutria (color)").”
“Cut open along the back (left), along the belly part (right). **Nutria fur** is a type of fur obtained from the [nutria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutria "Nutria"), which is also known as the **coypu**, beaver rat or swamp beaver.”
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