# gorilla

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɡəˈɹɪl.ə/ · frequency rank #12,613

## Definitions
1. An ape of the genus Gorilla; endemic to the forests of Central Africa and typified by superlative physical size and strength in relation to other primates.
2. A big and brutish man or a thug; a goon or ruffian.
3. A powerful person or organization; a heavyweight or behemoth.
4. 1000 pounds sterling or dollar.

## Etymology
From Ancient Greek Γόριλλαι (Górillai, “Gorillai (a tribe of hairy women)”), described by Hanno the Navigator, a Carthaginian navigator and possible visitor to the area that later became Sierra Leone; the Greek word is likely from Punic, and ultimately from an African language.

## Easily confused with
- **grill** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gorilla-vs-grill)
- **grille** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gorilla-vs-grille)
- **grills** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gorilla-vs-grills)
- **guerilla** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gorilla-vs-guerilla)
- **guerrilla** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gorilla-vs-guerrilla)
- **Godzilla** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/godzilla-vs-gorilla)

## Common misspellings (8)
`ggorilla`, `goirlla`, `gorila`, `gorilal`, `gorlila`, `gorrilla`, `groilla`, `ogrilla`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/gorilla