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noun Uncommon

cheetah

CHEE-tuh

Cheetah (noun) means a large, spotted wild cat known for being the fastest land animal, native mainly to Africa. Example: “The cheetah can reach speeds of over 60 miles per hour in short bursts.”

noun
1
A large, spotted wild cat known for being the fastest land animal, native mainly to Africa.
"The cheetah can reach speeds of over 60 miles per hour in short bursts."

How to use cheetah

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe famously fast, spotted big cat.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
cheetah cub speed of a cheetah

Word forms

cheetahs plural

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Test yourself on “cheetah” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ can reach speeds of over 60 miles per hour in short bursts.

Etymology

Borrowed from Hindi चीता (cītā), ultimately from Sanskrit citra ("spotted, multicolored"), a reference to the animal's coat.

Origin: Sanskrit

chetah

Frequently asked questions

What does “cheetah” mean?

The word “cheetah” means a large, spotted wild cat known for being the fastest land animal, native mainly to Africa. In plain terms, the famously fast, spotted big cat.

How do you pronounce “cheetah”?

“Cheetah” is pronounced CHEE-tuh (/ˈt͡ʃiːtə/ in IPA).

How do you use “cheetah” in a sentence?

Here is “cheetah” used in a sentence: “The cheetah can reach speeds of over 60 miles per hour in short bursts.”

What part of speech is “cheetah”?

“Cheetah” is a noun.

Where does the word “cheetah” come from?

The word “cheetah” comes from Sanskrit. Borrowed from Hindi चीता (cītā), ultimately from Sanskrit citra ("spotted, multicolored"), a reference to the animal's coat.

Is “cheetah” a common word?

“Cheetah” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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