# mongoose

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmɒŋ.ɡuːs/ · frequency rank #43,266

## Definitions
1. Any of several species of generalist predatory carnivores in the family Herpestidae; the various species range in size from rats to large cats. Indian mongooses are predators of venomous snakes, though other mongoose species have similar habits.
2. Any members of family Eupleridae of Malagasy mongooses, only distantly related to the Herpestidae, but resembling them in appearance and habits, with larger ears and ringed tails.

## Etymology
First attested in the 1690s. Borrowed from Portuguese manguço, from Marathi मुंगूस (muṅgūs), from Old Marathi 𑘦𑘳𑘽𑘐𑘳𑘭 (muṃgusa). Ultimately a Dravidian borrowing (compare Telugu ముంగిస (muṅgisa)), from Proto-Dravidian *mūnkūc- (“mongoose”). Spelling altered by folk-etymological association with goose. Displaced native Old English nǣderbita (literally “snake biter”).

## Easily confused with
- **Montrose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mongoose-vs-montrose)

## Common misspellings (11)
`mmongoose`, `mnogoose`, `mognoose`, `monggoose`, `mongooes`, `mongoosse`, `mongose`, `mongosoe`, `monngoose`, `monogose`, `omngoose`

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