noun
piranha
pih-RAH-nuh
Piranha (noun) means a small South American freshwater fish known for its sharp teeth and reputation for ferocity, though most species mainly scavenge or eat plants. Example: “The documentary showed a school of piranhas stripping a carcass in minutes.”
noun
1
A small South American freshwater fish known for its sharp teeth and reputation for ferocity, though most species mainly scavenge or eat plants.
"The documentary showed a school of piranhas stripping a carcass in minutes."
How to use piranha
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA toothy river fish from South America, famous (and somewhat exaggerated) for its aggression.
Common pairings
a school of piranhas
piranha-infested waters
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Word forms
- Plural
- piranhas
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The documentary showed a school of _____ stripping a carcass in minutes.
Etymology
Borrowed into English by 1869 from Portuguese piranha or Spanish piraña, which trace back to the Old Tupi word pirãîa.
Class of 1869
piranha joined the language around 1869.
See the full Class of 1869 →
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “piranha” mean?
The word “piranha” means a small South American freshwater fish known for its sharp teeth and reputation for ferocity, though most species mainly scavenge or eat plants. In plain terms, a toothy river fish from South America, famous (and somewhat exaggerated) for its aggression.
How do you pronounce “piranha”?
“Piranha” is pronounced pih-RAH-nuh (/pɪˈɹɑn(j)ə/ in IPA).
How do you use “piranha” in a sentence?
Here is “piranha” used in a sentence: “The documentary showed a school of piranhas stripping a carcass in minutes.”
What part of speech is “piranha”?
“Piranha” is a noun.
Where does the word “piranha” come from?
The word “piranha” dates back to around 1869 and comes from Spanish. Borrowed into English by 1869 from Portuguese piranha or Spanish piraña, which trace back to the Old Tupi word pirãîa.
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