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Today it means

jaguar

a large spotted wild cat native to the Americas

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Where does the word "jaguar" come from? It comes from Tupi-Guarani yaguara, passing through Portuguese before entering English (1600s-1700s).

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Where does the word "jaguar" come from? It comes from Tupi-Guarani yaguara, passing through Portuguese before entering English (1600s-1700s).

Jaguar’s story begins in Tupi-Guarani: yaguara meant “fierce beast.” A name meaning "fierce, carnivorous beast". By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Portuguese as jaguar. Adopted after Portuguese contact with Tupi peoples. It reached English by 1600s-1700s as jaguar. Tupi 'yaguara', beast of prey. Today, jaguar means a large spotted wild cat native to the Americas.

  1. Stage 1 · Tupi-Guarani · pre-1500s yaguara "fierce beast", a name meaning "fierce, carnivorous beast".
  2. Stage 2 · Portuguese · 1600s jaguar "jaguar", adopted after Portuguese contact with Tupi peoples.
  3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s-1700s jaguar "the large spotted cat of the Americas", Tupi 'yaguara', beast of prey.

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