noun

mongoose

MONG-goos

Quiz me More like this

Mongoose (noun) means a small, agile carnivorous mammal known for its speed and famous ability to kill venomous snakes. Example: “The mongoose darted around the cobra, waiting for an opening to strike.”

noun

A small, agile carnivorous mammal known for its speed and famous ability to kill venomous snakes.

"The mongoose darted around the cobra, waiting for an opening to strike."

"Farmers once introduced mongooses to islands to control rats and snakes."

How to use mongoose

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small, fast, snake-killing mammal found mainly in Africa and Asia.

Common mistake

The plural is "mongooses," never "mongeese" — despite how it looks, the word has nothing to do with goose.

Common pairings

a mongoose and a cobra a mongoose colony

Vocabulary Flow

Build your vocabulary from words like mongoose.

Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.

Start vocabulary practice

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: mongooses, mongeese

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

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ darted around the cobra, waiting for an opening to strike.

Etymology

From Portuguese manguço, borrowed from a Marathi word for the animal that traces back to an old Dravidian root. The English spelling was later reshaped by folk association with "goose" — the plural is properly "mongooses," not "mongeese."

Origin: Portuguese

Rhymes for mongoose

rose nose lose dose pose Jose hose Bose those close moose whose

See all rhymes for mongoose →

Frequently asked questions

What does “mongoose” mean?

The word “mongoose” means a small, agile carnivorous mammal known for its speed and famous ability to kill venomous snakes. In plain terms, a small, fast, snake-killing mammal found mainly in Africa and Asia.

How do you pronounce “mongoose”?

“Mongoose” is pronounced MONG-goos (/ˈmɑŋ.ɡus/ in IPA).

How do you use “mongoose” in a sentence?

Here is “mongoose” used in a sentence: “The mongoose darted around the cobra, waiting for an opening to strike.”

What part of speech is “mongoose”?

“Mongoose” is a noun.

Where does the word “mongoose” come from?

The word “mongoose” comes from Portuguese.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include mongoose:

Words with Portuguese origins