mongoose: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1neutral, scientific, literary
Quick answer
What does “mongoose” mean?
A small carnivorous mammal with a long body, tail, and short legs, native to Africa and Asia, known for its ability to fight venomous snakes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small carnivorous mammal with a long body, tail, and short legs, native to Africa and Asia, known for its ability to fight venomous snakes.
The term can sometimes be used in zoological and conservation contexts to refer broadly to species of the family Herpestidae. Figuratively, it may reference a person or entity that counters a specific threat (e.g., the 'Rikki-Tikki-Tavi' mongoose in Kipling's story symbolizing protection).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences. Plural is commonly 'mongooses' (occasionally 'mongeese' by false analogy, but non-standard).
Connotations
Identical. Evokes Rudyard Kipling's 'The Jungle Book' in literary contexts, or conservation/biology in technical contexts.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, primarily encountered in nature documentaries, literature, or specialised texts.
Grammar
How to Use “mongoose” in a Sentence
The mongoose VERB the snake.A mongoose was observed VERBing.There is a mongoose in the NOUN.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except metaphorically for a competitive counter-strategy.
Academic
Used in zoology, ecology, and conservation biology.
Everyday
Rare, except when discussing animals, travel, or literature.
Technical
Specific to biological taxonomy and wildlife management.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mongoose”
- Misspelling as 'mongeese' for the plural (though understood, the standard is 'mongooses').
- Incorrect pronunciation placing stress on the second syllable (e.g., /mɒŋˈɡuːs/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard plural is 'mongooses'. 'Mongeese' is a rare, non-standard form based on a false analogy with 'goose'.
No. While some species are famous for this behaviour, many mongoose species have varied diets including insects, crabs, rodents, and birds, with only some specialising in hunting snakes.
It derives from the Marathi (Indian language) word 'maṅgūs', likely via Portuguese 'mangusto'.
They are not closely related, though they share a similar body shape due to convergent evolution. Mongooses belong to the family Herpestidae, while weasels and ferrets are in the family Mustelidae.
A small carnivorous mammal with a long body, tail, and short legs, native to Africa and Asia, known for its ability to fight venomous snakes.
Mongoose is usually neutral, scientific, literary in register.
Mongoose: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɒŋɡuːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːŋɡuːs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Rikki-tikki-tavi (direct reference to the literary mongoose)”
- “like a mongoose and a cobra (to describe a natural, adversarial rivalry)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Mongooses fight snakes in the 'mon-goose' chase.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SMALL BUT EFFECTIVE DEFENDER; A NATURAL ENEMY.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic for which the mongoose is most famous?