Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| leopardo de las nieves | /leoˌpaɾdo de las ˈnjebes/ | masculine |
| onza | /ˈonθa/ /ˈonsa/ |
feminine |
| leopardo nival | /leopaɾdo nibal/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| leopardo níveo | /leopaɾdo nibeo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
The term refers to the large feline mammal, Panthera uncia. While there are several ways to name this animal, leopardo de las nieves is the most common term used in both everyday conversation and scientific contexts.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase leopardo de las nieves literally translates to 'leopard of the snows'.
Which one should you use?
Leopardo de las nieves is a descriptive name and is the most widely used. In contrast, onza is a specific, single-word name for the animal. Other variations include the more technical or scientific leopardo nival, which uses the adjective for 'snowy' and leopardo níveo.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because onza is a feminine noun, it must be preceded by the feminine article la (e.g., la onza). The other forms provided are masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
/leoˌpaɾdo de las ˈnjebes/
Did you know?
- The word onza is a double meaning in Spanish. Depending on the context, it can refer to a snow leopard or a unit of weight known as an 'ounce'.
- The term onza is a linguistic relative of the English words 'ounce' and 'inch'. All of these terms trace their origins back to the Latin word uncia.
- The term leopardo de las nieves uses the plural nieves (snows) rather than the singular nieve. This poetic phrasing is common in Spanish when describing the snowy peaks of mountains.
Examples in context
- El leopardo de las nieves es un animal en peligro de extinción.The snow leopard is an endangered animal.
- El leopardo de las nieves vive en las montañas.The snow leopard lives in the mountains.
- He visto un leopardo de las nieves en el documental.I saw a snow leopard in the documentary.
- El leopardo de las nieves tiene un pelaje muy grueso.The snow leopard has a very thick fur.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are at the zoo watching a wildlife presentation.
- Lucía¡Mira, Javier! Es un leopardo de las nieves.Look, Javier! It is a snow leopard.
- JavierEs impresionante, es un animal muy elegante.It is impressive, it is a very elegant animal.
- Lucía¿Crees que el leopardo de las nieves es peligroso?Do you think the snow leopard is dangerous?
- JavierNo, suele ser un animal muy tímido.No, it tends to be a very shy animal.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “snow leopard” translations and entries leopardo de las nieves, onza, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, las, leopardo, níveo, onza, CC BY-SA 4.0.
