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piranha

piranha

noun pee-RAH-nyah Rare

Origin: Tupi pirá (fish) + sainha (tooth)

Usage Note

Piranha is a loanword in French, with the plural des piranhas. Beyond the fish, it is used figuratively for a ruthlessly aggressive person, as in c'est un vrai piranha en affaires ('he's a real shark in business').

Examples

"Le piranha est redouté pour ses dents tranchantes."

Natural Translation

The piranha is feared for its sharp teeth.

Literal Translation

The piranha is dreaded for its teeth sharp.

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