# What is a Narwhal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Feedback\ **Created:** [March 4, 2018, 11:33am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165 "2018-03-04T11:33:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![buckey2256](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/buckey2256/32/3026_2.png) [@buckey2256](https://community.wanikani.com/u/buckey2256)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 12:42am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/61 "2018-03-05T00:42:47Z")
MOVE ASIDE ORANGE JUICE!!! there is a new flu deterrent in town. ---
**Author:** ![Compa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/compa/32/34372_2.png) [@Compa](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Compa)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 12:45am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/62 "2018-03-05T00:45:36Z")
It’s like a unicorn except it’s a dolphin at the same time ---
**Author:** ![mikwebb33](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/mikwebb33/32/166014_2.png) [@mikwebb33](https://community.wanikani.com/u/mikwebb33)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 12:46am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/63 "2018-03-05T00:46:30Z")
I did a quick poll around my family and friends (all intelligent adult native English speakers by the way!). 80% had no idea what it was, but a few did. Narwhals are more likely more commonly known to people who live in northern hemisphere arctic water countries like Canada, Russia and Norway (that includes our North American friends) . The Arctic is the only place in the world where Narwhals hang out . Narwhals probably get more of a run in children’s books, TV shows etc in that part of the world. The other half of the world don’t really get much exposure to the Narwhal, yet other common arctic animals like the polar bear, Walrus and Moose do. Also, people from all over the world who enjoy watching nature docs like The Blue Planet would also know what a Narwhal is. To think a Narwhal is commonly known to native English speakers is ludicrous. And to name a simple radical after it was also a little surprising. But I still love you WK. Tonight I will pull up National Geographic and teach both of my kids all about the wonders of the rarely sighted, but majestic narwhal. Cheers. ---
**Author:** ![TextRich](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/textrich/32/2269_2.png) [@TextRich](https://community.wanikani.com/u/TextRich)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 1:08am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/64 "2018-03-05T01:08:28Z")
> [@mikwebb33](#): > > To think a Narwhal is commonly known to native English speakers is ludicrous. And to name a simple radical after it was also a little surprising. But I still love you WK. WK loves you too. For what it’s worth, I had to look up geoduck (Level 10). Assuming WK never updates its mnemonics, 10 years from today native English speakers are going to have to look up Charlie Sheen. ---
**Author:** ![gojarappe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/gojarappe/32/201940_2.png) [@gojarappe](https://community.wanikani.com/u/gojarappe)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 1:14am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/65 "2018-03-05T01:14:29Z")
> [@sarahmno13](#): > > who was like, you know what we should check!The amount of vitamin c in this sea unicorns skin Man, I did not expect this thread to blow up. The skin of the narwhal, called “maktaq” by Canadian Inuit, is eaten both raw and boiled, and the meat is eaten by the people, or fed to sled dogs. ---
**Author:** ![studygurashi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/studygurashi/32/162873_2.png) [@studygurashi](https://community.wanikani.com/u/studygurashi)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 1:16am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/66 "2018-03-05T01:16:47Z")
That makes a whole heckova lot more sense now ---
**Author:** ![twilightguardian](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/twilightguardian/32/5662_2.png) [@twilightguardian](https://community.wanikani.com/u/twilightguardian)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 1:19am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/67 "2018-03-05T01:19:13Z")
“Canada, Russia and Norway (that includes our North American friends)” Ah, I guess we Canadians aren’t part of North America if we’re specially distinct from the continent. The US is just all concepts of “America” and we Canadians have elevated to a higher plane of existence. ---
**Author:** ![studygurashi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/studygurashi/32/162873_2.png) [@studygurashi](https://community.wanikani.com/u/studygurashi)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 1:23am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/68 "2018-03-05T01:23:48Z")
Reminds me of this (hidden for some bad language) > **Summary** > > ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/3X/2/a/2ad83fce3dfd1c9d7031eb782165f1f56e69fe8b.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![mikwebb33](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/mikwebb33/32/166014_2.png) [@mikwebb33](https://community.wanikani.com/u/mikwebb33)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 1:41am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/69 "2018-03-05T01:41:25Z")
Geoduck? Is that like an Arctic ocean swimming one horned duck. 麻薬 - Picture Charlie saying “MaYaku za buds got me all fu…up” ---
**Author:** ![mikwebb33](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/mikwebb33/32/166014_2.png) [@mikwebb33](https://community.wanikani.com/u/mikwebb33)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 1:57am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/70 "2018-03-05T01:57:35Z")
Sorry Canada. I should of just said America, or USA, or The States… ---
**Author:** ![Saruko](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/saruko/32/218818_2.png) [@Saruko](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Saruko)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 2:19am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/71 "2018-03-05T02:19:31Z")
> [@mikwebb33](#): > > I’m waiting for a Quoll radical to pop up next. I had no idea what a quoll is, and I’m glad I looked it up. I mean, just look at that cuteness! ![Eastern_Quoll_(Black)%20-%20Edited](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/3X/5/3/538116502180bffc668eee5a1e25c2541fa9ecd4.jpg) Plus, its name in Japanese is フクロネコ (bag-cat). lol ---
**Author:** ![Five](https://cdck-file-uploads-global.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wanikanicommunity/original/3X/f/d/fd4c154120954695f788402f3bcf4e616499bc2d.png) [@Five](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Five)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 2:30am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/72 "2018-03-05T02:30:47Z")
> [@hunter-baun](#): > > usually within trailer parks or hog farms Oh, that’s rich. I certainly have to laugh at that, and probably not for the reasons you think. ---
**Author:** ![TextRich](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/textrich/32/2269_2.png) [@TextRich](https://community.wanikani.com/u/TextRich)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 3:04am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/73 "2018-03-05T03:04:02Z")
> [@mikwebb33](#): > > Geoduck? Is that like an Arctic ocean swimming one horned duck. Yes, exactly. 😛 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/3X/4/4/44b66577985760f48c5d8540b7caa7a725ed789f.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Subversity](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/subversity/32/55827_2.png) [@Subversity](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Subversity)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 3:15am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/74 "2018-03-05T03:15:53Z")
I don’t think Quolls can compete with Quokkas for cuteness… They’re certainly much more elegant looking I’ll admit; quokkas tend to be derpy. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/3X/f/4/f4b3ab12371e24fc2bc3377399e4c6069cf9dec9.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![malauren](https://cdck-file-uploads-global.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wanikanicommunity/original/3X/f/d/fd4c154120954695f788402f3bcf4e616499bc2d.png) [@malauren](https://community.wanikani.com/u/malauren)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 3:26am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/75 "2018-03-05T03:26:01Z")
I had to look up for Charlie Sheen (and it still isn’t an helpful mnemonic at all for me). But I’m not a native English speaker… ---
**Author:** ![leinschwarz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/leinschwarz/32/41423_2.png) [@leinschwarz](https://community.wanikani.com/u/leinschwarz)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 3:37am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/76 "2018-03-05T03:37:04Z")
Now I know what Narwhal is! After 30++ levels! whoa! ---
**Author:** ![Leebo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/leebo/32/439476_2.png) [@Leebo](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Leebo)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 3:47am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/77 "2018-03-05T03:47:15Z")
> [@mikwebb33](#): > > To think a Narwhal is commonly known to native English speakers is ludicrous. I could ask a bunch of people I know and come back with 100% saying they know, but… yeah, I never claimed that literally every single English speaker knew the word. Congrats for finding more comrades. I’m glad geoduck got mentioned, because that definitely is pretty obscure. I knew it before WK, but they are not in the same category of being known by the general public. ---
**Author:** ![DawnTheFawn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/dawnthefawn/32/222363_2.png) [@DawnTheFawn](https://community.wanikani.com/u/DawnTheFawn)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 4:00am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/78 "2018-03-05T04:00:56Z")
To be honest I probably would have as well except there was this time I was at someone’s house and Two and a Half Men was playing on TV. Somehow the name of the actor from that show stuck with me all these years. ---
**Author:** ![Momoiro](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/momoiro/32/503546_2.png) [@Momoiro](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Momoiro)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 4:08am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/79 "2018-03-05T04:08:56Z")
LOVE THIS! ---
**Author:** ![gojarappe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/gojarappe/32/201940_2.png) [@gojarappe](https://community.wanikani.com/u/gojarappe)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 4:12am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165/80 "2018-03-05T04:12:57Z")
Your avatar is adorable, Momoiro! [Previous page](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165.md?page=3) [Next page](https://community.wanikani.com/t/what-is-a-narwhal/29165.md?page=5)