What does dhole mean?
The dhole is a wild canine species, Cuon alpinus, native to the forests and grasslands of Central, South, and Southeast Asia. Roughly the size of a medium dog and distinguished by its reddish coat, rounded ears, and bushy tail, the dhole is best known for living and hunting in cooperative packs that can bring down prey considerably larger than any individual animal. Unlike wolves or jackals, dholes are unusually vocal during hunts, using distinctive whistles — earning them the nickname 'whistling dog' in some regions. The species appears in zoological literature, wildlife documentaries, and conservation reporting, where it is often discussed because of its declining populations and shrinking habitat. For readers of nature writing, 'dhole' is the precise term for this striking and little-known predator.
nounA dhole is a wild canid (Cuon alpinus) native to Central, South, and Southeast Asia, resembling a reddish dog and known for hunting in packs. It is also called the Asiatic wild dog or Indian wild dog.
- The Asiatic wild dog (Cuon alpinus), a social pack-hunting carnivore of Asia.
"The pack of dholes moved silently through the forest, flushing deer with remarkable coordination."
"Wildlife photographers travelled to Kanha National Park hoping to film dholes on a hunt."
"Conservationists warn that habitat loss is pushing the dhole toward extinction across much of its range."
The standard plural adds '-s'; the singular and plural forms are both used when referring to the species generally.
"Dholes communicate through whistled calls during coordinated hunts."
The dhole can whistles to coordinate its hunts — it's one of the few wild dogs that 'talks' its way through a chase.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dhole
The word 'dhole' entered English in the early 19th century, borrowed from a source language of southern India — likely Kannada 'tōḷa' or a related Dravidian form used by local hunters for the animal. It was adopted by British naturalists working in India during the colonial period and became established in English-language zoology. It has no widely recognized cognates in other European languages beyond direct borrowings of the same Indian source.
How dhole is actually used
The word is used in zoological and conservation contexts; the plural is typically 'dholes'. The term carries no figurative or informal usage.
Easily confused with dhole
A jackal is a smaller, more solitary wild canine of Africa and Asia, whereas the dhole is a highly social pack hunter found mainly in Asian forests.