piranha

See also: Piranha

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

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 of the same.[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 (as piranha) and Spanish (as piraña).

Pronunciation

Noun

piranha (plural piranhas or piranha)

  1. Any of the carnivorous freshwater fish living in South American rivers and belonging to the subfamily Serrasalminae.

Translations

References
  1. “piranha” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
  2. Britton, A. Scott. Guaraní: Guaraní-English, English-Guaraní ; concise dictionary. New York: Hippocrene Books, 2005. Print.

Cebuano

Etymology

From English piranha, from Old Tupi pirá (“fish”).

Pronunciation
  • Hyphenation: pi‧ran‧ha

Noun

piranha

  1. a piranha

Italian

Etymology

From Old Tupi.

Noun

piranha m (invariable)

  1. piranha

Portuguese

Etymology

From Old Tupi.

Pronunciation
  • (Brazil) IPA(key): [ˌpi.ˈɾɐ̃.ɲa]

Noun

piranha f (plural piranhas)

  1. piranha
  2. (derogatory, vulgar, Brazil) slut
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