pantera
“pantera” means “panther” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
panther
Also: black leopard, black jaguar
📝 In Action
La pantera es un animal muy elegante y rápido.
A1The panther is a very elegant and fast animal.
Vimos una pantera negra escondida entre los árboles.
A2We saw a black panther hidden among the trees.
El sigilo de la pantera le permite cazar sin ser vista.
B1The panther's stealth allows it to hunt without being seen.
fireball
Also: fierce person
📝 In Action
Esa jugadora es una pantera en la cancha; no deja pasar ni un balón.
B2That player is a fireball on the court; she doesn't let a single ball get past.
Mi abuela es una pantera; a sus ochenta años todavía sale a correr cada mañana.
C1My grandmother is a fireball; at eighty years old she still goes running every morning.
Vocabulary Collections
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Words that translate to "pantera" in Spanish:
black jaguar→black leopard→fierce person→fireball→panther→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pantera
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'the male panther' in Spanish?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'panthera', which came from Ancient Greek 'pánthēr'. The Greek name was used to describe leopards and other large spotted cats.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is a black panther a different animal than a leopard?
Not usually. In Spanish, 'pantera negra' usually refers to a leopard or jaguar with a black coat. It's the same species, just a different color!
Can I use 'el pantera' if it's a boy?
No. Even if the panther is male, the word remains 'la pantera'. This is a rule in Spanish for certain animal names called 'epicene' nouns.
Where does the name 'La Pantera Rosa' come from?
It is the Spanish translation of 'The Pink Panther'. It's the most famous pop-culture use of the word!