What does pinguin mean?
"Pinguin" is an obsolete spelling of the familiar noun "penguin," a large, flightless seabird that is native to the Southern Hemisphere. Its modern replacement is used for members of the family Spheniscidae, including the emperor penguin, king penguin, and Adélie penguin. Although the spelling may resemble an error or an informal nickname, it has a genuine historical basis and appeared in English writing from the early modern period. The word ultimately came through Dutch, with the English and Dutch forms relating to Latin penguinus; the deeper origin of that Latin term is uncertain. In contemporary British and American English, "pinguin" is the standard spelling, and the older form may still be encountered in historical texts, quotations, or reproductions of early natural-history writing.
nounAn archaic English spelling of "penguin," the large, flightless seabird of the Southern Hemisphere.
- A large flightless bird, especially one of the species commonly found in Antarctica and other parts of the Southern Hemisphere.
"The naturalist's account described the pinguin as a bird that is unusually well adapted to life in the water."
"A colony of pinguins gathered near the rocky shore."
"The nineteenth-century expedition included an illustration of a pinguin standing beside its nest."
The attested historical spelling uses the standard plural ending; the modern spelling is "penguins."
"Several pinguins approached the edge of the ice."
The spelling may look like a modern mistake, but "pinguin" was once a legitimate English spelling of penguin.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pinguin come from?
"Pinguin" was an early modern English spelling of "penguin," attested from the 16th century. English borrowed the word from Dutch pinguin, whose ultimate source is Latin penguinus, although the deeper origin of the Latin name remains uncertain. The modern spelling "penguin" subsequently became established in English.
Related word forms
How pinguin is actually used
This spelling is archaic and occurs chiefly in older English texts. In modern British and American English, use "penguin" instead.
Easily confused with pinguin
"Pinguin" is an obsolete spelling of the modern English word "penguin," rather than a different species.