aardvark
2 synonyms for aardvark, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A nocturnal, burrowing African mammal that eats ants and termites and somewhat resembles a pig with a long snout.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
anteater
ant bear
Etymology
From Afrikaans aardvark, literally "earth pig" — from aarde ("earth") and vark ("pig") — because Dutch settlers in South Africa thought the burrowing animal resembled a pig.
Full origin of aardvark →Frequently asked questions
What does “aardvark” mean?
The word “aardvark” means a nocturnal, burrowing African mammal that eats ants and termites and somewhat resembles a pig with a long snout. In plain terms, a strange-looking African animal that digs burrows and eats ants and termites.
How do you pronounce “aardvark”?
“Aardvark” is pronounced AHD-vahk (/ˈɑɹd.vɑɹk/ in IPA).
How do you use “aardvark” in a sentence?
Here is “aardvark” used in a sentence: “The aardvark uses its long, sticky tongue to slurp up thousands of termites a night.”
What part of speech is “aardvark”?
“Aardvark” is a noun.
Where does the word “aardvark” come from?
The word “aardvark” comes from Dutch. From Afrikaans aardvark, literally "earth pig" — from aarde ("earth") and vark ("pig") — because Dutch settlers in South Africa thought the burrowing animal resembled a pig.
