Spanish Word of the Day: Tigre (tiger)

The word tigre (tiger) comes from the Latin word tigris, which is derived from the Greek word tygris. However, the word can be traced further back to the Persian word thigra, meaning sharp and pointed. Originally, it was used as a verb to describe the speed and velocity of an arrow, reflecting the characteristics of a tiger as a fast and lethal predator.

Tigre is a masculine noun and takes the following definite and indefinite articles:

• el tigre = the tiger
• los tigres = the tigers
• un tigre = a tiger
• unos tigres = some tigers

A female tiger is called tigresa (tigress) but it is not commonly used unless you specifically know the gender of the tiger. 

Words that contain the word tigre include:

• tigrillo = tiger cub (also the name for ocelot)
• tigrado = striped (like a tiger)
• tigre blanco = white tiger (referring to the rare white Bengala tiger)

Tigres are fascinating and majestic creatures that live in different habitats. Some of those environments include sabanas (savannahs), pastizales (grasslands), and selvas tropicales (rainforests).

These felinos (felines) are the largest wild cats in the world, specifically the Siberian tiger, also known as the Amur tiger or tigre de Amur. Sus rayas (their stripes) are the most prominent feature distinguishing a tiger from other wild cats. Algunos tigres (Some tigers) are orange with black stripes, and others are white with black stripes.

Fun Facts:

Each tiger has a unique patrón de rayas (stripe pattern), similar to human huellas dactilares (fingerprints). This helps researchers identify each tiger in the wild. 

A tiger’s rugido (roar) can be heard up to 3.3 kilometres (two miles) away. They use it to communicate and establish their territorio (territory). 

They have remarkable visión nocturna (night vision), which helps them excel as great night hunters. Unlike other wild cats, los tigres (tigers) are solitarios (solitary). They prefer to cazar (hunt) and live alone. They tend to be very territoriales (territorial), marking their territory with their olor (scent) to keep other tigers away. They do this by urinating, roaring, and scratching trees.

An exception is a tigresa (tigress) with her cubs. A tigrillo (tiger cub) will stay with the mother for up to two years until it learns to hunt and survive on its own.

These gatos carnívoros (carnivorous cats) hunt primarily large animals such as búfalo (buffalo), ciervos/venados (deer), jabalí (wild boar), and antílope (antelope). Their advantage is they can run at fast speeds of up to 64 kilometers (40 miles) per hour and they are strong swimmers. 

Their big paws have retractable garras (claws) that are sharp and convenient for holding onto presa (prey). When it comes to eating, they can consume 27 kilograms (60 pounds) of carne (meat) in one night.

All tiger species are en peligro de extinción (endangered) due to poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict. In the wild, their lifespan is about 10-15 years, but those in cautiverio (captivity) in zoos or sanctuaries for conservation efforts can live up to 25 years.

Fun Fact:

Unlike most big cats, tigres love water. They even have pies palmeados (webbed feet). This makes them excellent swimmers, which in turn makes them better hunters. Plus, the ability to swim helps them move more easily from place to place. 

There are six types of tigre species.

• tigre de Bengala = bengal
• tigre Indochino = indochinese
• tigre malayo= Malayan
• tigre siberiano= Siberian
• tigre del sur de china = Siberian
• tigre de sumatra= Sumatran

The tigre de bengala (Bengal tiger) lives in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan. They are bright orange with black stripes. However, there are rare white tigers with black stripes that form from a mutación genética rara (rare genetic mutation). This is the most numerous tiger subespecie (subspecies) with about 2,500 in the wild.

The tigre siberiano (Siberian tiger) is the largest of all the subspecies. It has a paler pelaje (coat) and fewer and wider stripes. Their thick coat protects them from the cold because they are mainly found in far east Russia and some in China and North Korea. It’s almost extinct and only about 100 are in cautiverio (captivity).

The tigre indochino (Indochinese tiger) is found in southeast Asia. It’s slightly smaller than the Bengal tiger, with rayas más estrechas (narrower stripes). These are critically endangered since it’s believed there are less than 350 in the wild.

Spanish colloquial expressions featuring ‘tigre’

The word tigre is used in many colloquial terms and idioms. This is because the tiger is seen as a brave and strong animal, so it is commonly used metaphorically to relate to people. Let’s look at a few examples below.

Ser un tigre o un tiguere (to be a tiger) is a widely used expression in the Dominican Republic. It colloquially describes someone as clever and street-smart, adept at navigating challenging life situations, including the intricacies of dating.

Ser un tigre (to be a tiger) in other Spanish-speaking countries is related to being brave, fearless, audacious, or having a great ability in something. 

The female version, ser una tigresa (to be a tigress), refers to a furious woman. It can also refer to a woman who is attractive and proactive in conquering someone.

Daniel demostró ser un tigre en el negocio debido a su valentía y determinación.

Daniel proved to be a tiger in the business due to his bravery and determination.

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Fun Fact:

Leche de tigre (tiger’s milk) is a Peruvian citrus-based marinade that is typically used to cure ceviche. It is made from jugo de limón (lime juice), jugo de pescado (fish juice), ajíes (chili peppers), ajo (garlic), cilantro, jengibre (ginger), and sometimes a bit of fish or seafood stock. This zesty liquid not only flavors the ceviche but is also enjoyed as a potent, tangy beverage believed to be a hangover cure and an aphrodisiac.

Spanish idioms featuring ‘tigre’