cheetah

Meaning

A distinctive member (Acinonyx jubatus) of the cat family, slightly smaller than the leopard, but with proportionately longer limbs and a smaller head; native to Africa and southeast Asia (where it is nearly extinct) and also credited with being the fastest terrestrial animal.

Synonyms

chetah

Acinonyx jubatus

leopard

🐆

hunting-cat

Acinonyx

ounce

guepard

Translations

guépard

Gepard

guepardo

ghepardo

jachtluipaard

guepardo

chita

çita

cheeta

γατόπαρδος

guepard

Acinonyx jubatus

chita

فهد

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈt͡ʃiːtə/

Etymology

Cognate with Old High German: haitar

Cognate with German: heiter

Cognate with Old Norse: heiðr

In summary

Borrowed from Hindi चीता (cītā, “leopard, panther”), ultimately from Sanskrit चित्र (citra, “multicolored, speckled”) (akin to Old High German haitar (“bright”) > German heiter; Old Norse heiðr (“bright”)) + Sanskrit काय (kāya, “body”), thus “having a spotted body”.