What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
manatee
Example
The manatee is sometimes called a sea cow. [manatee: noun]
Example
We saw a manatee swimming in the river during our boat tour. [manatee: noun]
dugong
Example
The dugong is sometimes called a sea cow. [dugong: noun]
Example
Dugongs are known for their distinctive snouts and fluked tails. [dugongs: plural noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Manatee is more commonly used in everyday language than dugong. This is likely due to the fact that manatees are found in the Americas, which includes English-speaking countries, while dugongs are primarily found in Asia and Australia.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between manatee and dugong?
Both manatee and dugong are relatively formal words that would be appropriate in scientific or academic contexts. However, manatee may be slightly more common in everyday language and therefore slightly less formal than dugong.
