piranha
See also: Piranha
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
First attested in 1869.[1] The first part of the term is from Old Tupi pirá (“fish”). There are several theories regarding the source of second part, including:
- It may be from Old Tupi sanha, sainha (“tooth”), or a Guaraní cognate.[1]
- It may be from Old Tupi ánha, anhá (“cut”) (which also meant "bad" or "devil" in Tupi-Guarani).[2]
- The full term may have been pira nya, a variant of pira'ya (“scissor-fish”), in Old Tupi.[1]
The term entered English via Portuguese piranha and Spanish piraña.
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /pɪˈɹɑːn(j)ə/
Audio (Southern England) (file)
- (General American) IPA(key): /pɪˈɹɑn(j)ə/, /pɪˈɹæn(j)ə/
Noun edit
piranha (plural piranhas or piranha)
- (ichthyology) Any of the carnivorous or frugivorous freshwater fish living in South American rivers and belonging to the subfamily Serrasalminae.
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
South American fish
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References edit
Cebuano edit
Etymology edit
From English piranha, from Old Tupi pirãia (“fish”).
Pronunciation edit
- Hyphenation: pi‧ran‧ha
Noun edit
piranha
- a piranha
French edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
piranha m (plural piranhas)
Further reading edit
- “piranha”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Italian edit
Etymology edit
From Old Tupi.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
piranha m (invariable)
Portuguese edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from Old Tupi pirãia.
Pronunciation edit
- Hyphenation: pi‧ra‧nha
Noun edit
piranha f (plural piranhas)
- piranha
- (derogatory, vulgar, Brazil) slut
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:vadia
Derived terms edit
Romanian edit
Etymology edit
Noun edit
piranha m (plural piranha)
Declension edit
Declension of piranha
singular | plural | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
indefinite articulation | definite articulation | indefinite articulation | definite articulation | |
nominative/accusative | (un) piranha | piranhaul | (niște) piranha | piranhai |
genitive/dative | (unui) piranha | piranhaului | (unor) piranha | piranhalor |
vocative | piranhaule | piranhalor |