aardvark

Meaning

The nocturnal, insectivorous, burrowing, mammal Orycteropus afer, of the order Tubulidentata, somewhat resembling a pig, common in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

Synonyms

anteater

antbear

ant bear

earth pig

African anteater

ant-bear

aard-vark

Orycteropus afer

Translations

oryctérope

Erdferkel

aardvarken

cerdo hormiguero

oritteropo

porc formiguer

Orycteropus afer

cochon de terre

oricteropo

خنزير الأرض

oryctérope du Cap

aardvark

porco-da-terra

yerdomuzu

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɑːd.vɑːk/

Etymology

Borrowed from Afrikaans aardvark (obsolete), erdvark, from aarde (“earth”, from Middle Dutch aerde) + vark (“pig”, from Middle Dutch varken). Early European colonists in South Africa noticed that the animal was similar to a pig, while aarde hints at the animal's habit of burrowing.