Would a Guinea Pig By Any Other Name be So Cute?
Why are guinea pigs called guinea pigs? Is it maybe because they originated in New Guinea? Do they belong to the pig family? The answer is ‘no’, and ‘no’ again. So, if that’s the case, then why are guinea pigs called guinea pigs then? There are a number of theories that try to address the question of the unusual name.
First, the origin of guinea in guinea pig. One theory posits that the animals were brought to Europe by way of Guinea, thus leading people to believe that they had originated there. Another theory is the word "guinea" is actually derived from Guiana, an area in South America; albeit it remains unclear wether the misspelling was intentional or merely a corruption of the original name. A third theory suggests that guinea pigs were named so because when they were originally sold in Great Britain, they were valued at one guinea. A guinea is an old British coin with a value of twenty one shillings. Unfortunately, this theory is based on a common misperception, as the first guinea pig was described in 1554 by a Swiss naturalist named Konrad Gesner, more than a century before the first guinea coin was tendered.
There are just as many theories regarding the pig in guinea pig than for the origin of guinea in guinea pigs. One theory suggests they are named pigs because of the snort-like noises guinea pigs make when excited or happy. Another theory posits that they were named pigs because of their resemblance to small pigs, or because of their eating habits. Whatever the reason, the English language is not the only one that refers to "pigginess". Scientists refer to guinea pigs as cavia porcellus; and porcellus is Latin for little pig. In the German language, guinea pigs are called Meerschweinchen (which is translated as little sea pigs). The origin of the name in German is probably because guinea pigs were treasured as an easily available and transportable source of fresh meat for sailing ships traveling long distances in the new world. Guinea pigs have a long history of serving as provisions. The Inkas treasured guinea pigs as a food source, but also slaughtered them in massed as ritual offerings to the gods. The Russian and Polish names for guinea pigs are similar to the German one, morskaya svinka and winka morska respectively; while the Dutch call them guinees biggetje (Guinean piglet). In the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden and Denmark they are called marsvin, which combines the Latin word for ocean "mare" with svin, meaning pig.
In some other languages, the name pig is combined with a different geographic origin. In France, for example, the guinea pig is referred to as the Indian pig. In Greece and in Portugal there is a similar reference to India or the Indies. Somewhat strangely, in Italy, the guinea pig, while still being referred to as a pig, is either named the little Indian pig, or the Peruvian cavy. But really on the weird scale is the Spanish language, which calls guinea pigs the Indian bunny rabbit. No New Guinea or pigginess in sight. But a rabbit?
Unfortunately, we are not any closer to deciphering the guinea pig’s name. Around the world, cultures neither agree on its geographical origin nor on its pigginess.
No matter their name, though, at the end of the day the Guinea Pig will always be a cute, furry friend.
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Would a Guinea Pig By Any Other Name be So Cute?
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