aardvark

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See also: aard-vark

English

An aardvark.
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
Wikispecies has information on:

Wikispecies

Alternative forms

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.

Pronunciation

Noun

aardvark (plural aardvarks)

  1. The nocturnal, insectivorous, burrowing, mammal Orycteropus afer, of the order Tubulidentata, somewhat resembling a pig, common in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa.
    Synonyms: African anteater, antbear, ant bear, anteater, earth pig
    The aardvark burrows in the ground and feeds mostly on termites, which it catches with its long, slimy tongue.

Derived terms

Translations

References

Afrikaans

Etymology

From Dutch aardvarken, from aarde (earth, soil) +‎ varken (pig).

Pronunciation

Noun

aardvark (plural aardvarke)

  1. Alternative form of erdvark

Descendants

  • English: aardvark

Portuguese

Portuguese Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia pt

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Afrikaans aardvark.

Pronunciation

 
  • (Brazil) IPA(key): /aʁ.d͡ʒiˈvaʁ.ki/ , /aʁd͡ʒˈvaʁ.ki/

Noun

aardvark m (plural aardvarks)

  1. aardvark (mammal)
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:orictéropo