A large, powerful wild cat with spotted fur that lives mainly in Central and South America. It is known for its strong bite and ability to swim.
From Portuguese “jaguar,” taken from a Tupi-Guarani word, likely “yaguara,” meaning “wild beast” or “big predator.” European explorers adopted the local name along with knowledge of the animal. The word traveled into English through colonial languages.
The jaguar’s name comes from Indigenous American languages, not European ones, so every time you say it you’re echoing local knowledge. Unlike many big cats, jaguars love water and can crush turtle shells with their jaws. Car companies borrowed the name to suggest speed and power, but the real animal is even more extreme.
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