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donkey

Fauna
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A donkey is a small, sturdy, long-eared equine, known for its patience, stubbornness, and humble, enduring service, symbolizing toil, humility, and the quiet wisdom of the lowly.

Detailed Definition
The donkey is the beast of burden in poetry, carrying heavy loads over dusty roads, yet it also possesses a gentle, intelligent eye and a bray that is both comic and mournful. Its role in the entry into Jerusalem gives it a sacred dimension, representing peace and humility. Poets use the donkey to convey the hardships of the poor, the steady, unglamorous labor that supports civilization, and the overlooked dignity of creatures that ask little and give much, often as a foil to the proud horse.
Example
Example in poetry:
G.K. Chesterton's "The Donkey" is told from the perspective of the donkey that carried Christ.; A poet might write, "I saw a donkey One day old, His head was too big For his neck to hold".; The donkey can symbolize humility and service.; Its stubbornness is often portrayed humorously.; The animal's role in Palm Sunday adds a sacred dimension.
Additional Notes
The donkey carries a complex set of associations in poetry, ranging from the humble beast of burden to the sacred creature that carried Christ into Jerusalem. G.K. Chesterton's poem "The Donkey" famously reimagines the animal's perspective, suggesting that it once bore the weight of the world. The donkey's bray, often treated as comic or ridiculous in earlier verse, can be reclaimed as a voice of honesty and simple dignity. Its stubbornness—often criticized—can be reframed as prudence, caution, or resistance to exploitation. In pastoral poetry, the donkey appears alongside the horse as a counterpoint of humility and steady, unglamorous labor. When writing, consider whether your donkey represents the overlooked, the patient, or the sacred.
Also Known As
Ass burro
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