Neanderthal is an extinct species of human that lived in Europe and western Asia from around 400,000 to 40,000 years ago. Neanderthals were closely related to modern humans, and they shared many physical features, such as a large brain and a robust skeleton. However, Neanderthals also had some distinctive features, such as a sloping forehead, a prominent brow ridge, and a wide nose.
The name “Neanderthal” comes from the Neander Valley in Germany, where the first Neanderthal fossils were discovered in 1856. The correct pronunciation of “Neanderthal” is “nee-AN-der-thal.” The stress is on the second syllable, and the “a” in the first syllable is pronounced like the “a” in “cat.” Many people mistakenly pronounce “Neanderthal” with the stress on the first syllable, but this is incorrect.
