What does gerbil mean?
A gerbil is a small, long-tailed rodent belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae. These rodents are native to dry parts of Africa and Asia, although several species are widely kept as household pets. A familiar pet gerbil might be a Syrian gerbil, valued for its small size, soft coat, agility, and nocturnal activity. In everyday conversation, “gerbil” usually refers to an individual animal rather than the wider taxonomic group, although the broader zoological sense also exists. Gerbils should not be confused with jerboas, which are related desert rodents with much longer legs and tails. The word entered English through German and ultimately reflects a name passed down through Turkish and Persian. Gerbil is especially useful when precision matters because it distinguishes these particular rodents from other small pets and desert animals that may look or behave similarly.
nounA gerbil is a small, long-tailed desert rodent of the subfamily Gerbillinae, several species of which are commonly kept as pets. Gerbils are agile, generally nocturnal animals with soft fur and powerful hind legs.
- A small desert rodent of the subfamily Gerbillinae, especially one kept as a pet.
"The gerbil explored its cage wheel before settling down to eat a sunflower seed."
"She adopted a young gerbil from the local animal shelter."
"The desert gerbil is adapted to hot, dry habitats and can survive for long periods without drinking water."
The standard plural adds -s to the singular noun.
"Two gerbils lived in the brightly decorated cage."
The name sounds German, but gerbils are native to dry regions of Africa and Asia rather than to Germany.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gerbil come from?
English borrowed the word from German Gerbil, which was taken from Turkish gerbil. The Turkish word ultimately derives from a Persian form, itself associated with an Arabic term for a desert rodent. The name was subsequently used in zoological Latin for the genus Gerbillus and the subfamily Gerbillinae.
How gerbil is actually used
The word is general rather than technical. In everyday use it usually denotes a pet gerbil, while zoological contexts may use it for the broader Gerbillinae subfamily.
Easily confused with gerbil
A gerbil is a gerbilline rodent, whereas a jerboa belongs to the distinct jerboa family and typically has exceptionally long hind legs and a tufted tail.