guepardo
/ɡeˈpaɾdo/masculine
The Spanish word for cheetah is guepardo. Wiktionary also lists chita and gatopardo.
Meaning: Acinonyx jubatus (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| guepardo | /ɡeˈpaɾdo/ | masculine |
| chita | /ˈt͡ʃita/ | feminine, masculine |
| gatopardo | /ɡatoˈpaɾdo/ | masculine |
All provided terms refer to the animal *Acinonyx jubatus*. While guepardo is the standard term used across the Spanish-speaking world, other forms like chita or gatopardo are also used depending on the context.
What does it mean word for word?
The term gatopardo is a compound word consisting of gato (cat) and leopardo (leopard), literally meaning leopard-like cat.
Which one should you use?
guepardo is the most common and standard term. gatopardo is a more literary or poetic term, often found in older texts or specific biological contexts. chita is another variant used to refer to the animal.
How does it change in a sentence?
guepardo and gatopardo are masculine nouns. chita can be used as either a masculine or a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡeˈpaɾdo/
Did you know?
- The word chita is actually an English loanword. It traces its roots back to the Hindi word for 'leopard' or 'panther', which originally meant 'multicolored' or 'speckled' in Sanskrit.
- The term gatopardo is famously used in the title of a renowned novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, though the book is Italian.
Examples in context
- El chita es el animal más rápido.The cheetah is the fastest animal.This sentence is useful for illustrating the use of chita.Tatoeba #1550972 by marcelostockle, translation #1550962 by FiRez
- El guepardo es el animal más rápido del mundo.The cheetah is the fastest animal in the world.This sentence is useful for illustrating the use of guepardo.Tatoeba #3544853 by Milton, translation #3544819 by nava
- Una chita corre tan rápido como cualquier animal.A cheetah runs as fast as any animal.Tatoeba #1102905 by pilaf, translation #40267 by CM
- El guepardo es conocido por su velocidad impresionante.The cheetah is known for its impressive speed.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are watching a nature documentary on television.
- ElenaMira ese guepardo, Mateo.Look at that cheetah, Mateo.
- MateoEs un animal increíble.It is an incredible animal.
- Elena¿Es muy rápido el guepardo?Is the cheetah very fast?
- MateoSí, es extremadamente veloz.Yes, it is extremely swift.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cheetah” translations and entries guepardo, chita, gatopardo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chita, gatopardo, guepardo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
