aardwolf

See also: aard-wolf

English

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WOTD – 19 February 2026

An aardwolf (Proteles cristatus ) in Namibia.

Etymology

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Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *h1er- der.

Proto-Germanic *erþō

Proto-West Germanic *erþu

Old Dutch ertha

Middle Dutch āerde

Dutch aarde

Afrikaans aarde

Proto-Indo-European *wl̥kwós ?

Proto-Indo-European *wĺ̥kwos

Proto-Germanic *wulfaz

Proto-West Germanic *wulf

Old Dutch *wulf

Middle Dutch wolf

Dutch wolf

Afrikaans wolf

Afrikaans aardwolf bor.

Dutch aardwolf bor.

English aardwolf

Borrowed from South African Dutch aardwolf (whence Afrikaans aardwolf ), from aard- (prefix meaning ‘earth’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h1er- ("earth"), probably from the fact that the animal rests in burrows in the ground during the day) + wolf ("wolf") (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wĺ̥kwos ("wolf")), influenced by English wolf (the second element of aardwolf is pronounced like that word, and one plural form is aardwolves ; the Dutch plural form is aardwolven ).^[1]

Pronunciation

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(Received Pronunciation ) IPA ^(key): /ˈɑːdwʊlf/
Audio (Southern England ): (file)
(General American ) IPA ^(key): /ˈɑɹdˌwʊlf/
Audio (General American ): (file)
(General South African ) IPA ^(key): /ˈɑːdvɒlf/, /ˈɑːt-/, /-vʊlf/
Hyphenation: aard‧wolf

Noun

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aardwolf (plural aardwolves or (rare ) aardwolfs )

A nocturnal, insectivorous mammal (Proteles cristatus ), having yellowish fur with vertical black stripes, and a long mane down the midline of the neck and back; it is related to and resembles the hyena, and is native to eastern and southern Africa. [from early 19th c.]
Synonyms: civet hyena , (uncommon) earthwolf , (South Africa) maanhaar , (South Africa) maanhaar-jackal , termite-eating hyena
- [1831 March 22 (date delivered), "Report of the Committee of Science and Correspondence to the Council", in Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London, part I (1830–1831), London: [...] [F]or the [Zoological] Society [of London], by Richard Taylor, [...], →ISSN, →OCLC, pages 79 and 86:
  [page 79 ] The Committee of Science and Correspondence, having taken into consideration the request of the Council, that they should prepare a Report upon the Animals most desirable to be introduced into this country for the purposes of utility or exhibition, beg leave to submit a List of such Animals arranged under the heads of the respective countries of which they are natives. [...] [page 86 ] Cape of Good Hope. [...] Aard Wolf (Proteles).]
- 1833, "AARD-WOLF", in [George Long], editor, The Penny Cyclopædia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge , volumes I (A–Andes), London: Charles Knight and Co., [...], →OCLC, pages 4–5:
  The size of the aard-wolf is about that of a full-grown fox, which it further resembles in its pointed muzzle; but it stands higher upon its legs, its ears are considerably larger and more naked, and its tail shorter and not so bushy. [...] In its habits and manners the aard-wolf resembles the fox: like that animal it is nocturnal, and constructs a subterraneous burrow, at the bottom of which it lies concealed during the day-time and only ventures abroad on the approach of night to search for food and satisfy the other calls of nature.
- [1878], Parker Gillmore, "An Objectionable Host—Travelling Companions", in The Great Thirst Land: A Ride through Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal, and Kalahari Desert, London; Paris: Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co. [...], →OCLC, page 205:
  There is a very pretty little hyæna to be found up in these localities, called by the natives "aard-wolf," and by the colonists "strand wolf;" it is about the size of a jackal, possesses a bright fawn-coloured coat, handsomely marked with black lines.
- 1916 February 22 (date delivered), P[eter] Chalmers Mitchell, "Further Observations on the Intestinal Tract of Mammals", in Proceedings of the General Meetings for Scientific Business of the Zoological Society of London , number I, London: [...] [F]or the [Zoological] Society [of London], [...] [by] Messrs. Longmans, Green, and Co., [...], published March 1916, →OCLC, page 235:
  I have had the opportunity, however, of examining an example of the Aard Wolf (Proteles cristatus), an animal that is now seldom seen in menageries. So great is the uniformity of pattern amongst the terrestrial carnivores that Proteles may serve as an example of all.
- 1942 September, G[uy] C[hester] Shortridge, "Field Notes on the First and Second Expeditions of the Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province; and Descriptions of Some New Subgenera and Subspecies", in Annals of the South African Museum , volume XXXVI, part I, Edinburgh: [...] [F]or the trustees of the South African Museum by Neill and Co., [...], →ISSN, →OCLC, page 44:
  Aardwolves scoop out small hollows in the sides of white-ant hills, but do not tear down the mounds in the same manner as Aardvarks. [...] Newspaper controversy as to whether or not the Aardwolf habitually attacks sheep and lambs is something of a "hardy annual" in South Africa. [...] [I]t would be an error of judgment to advocate the destruction of all Aardwolves in the face of existing evidence of their normally insectivorous diet.
- 2003, Mike Unwin, "Mammals", in South African Wildlife: A Visitor’s Guide, Chalfont St. Peter, Buckinghamshire: Bradt Travel Guides; Guilford, Conn.: The Globe Pequot Press, →ISBN, page 51:
  Aardwolfs are widespread, though seldom seen. They inhabit open country, from arid scrub to moister, high-altitude grasslands.
- 2004, Sean Nicholson, "Mammals", in Namibian Wildlife: An Alternative Guide for the Traveller on Safari, [Morrisville, N.C.]: [Lulu.com], →ISBN, page 45:
  Just as hyenas have developed a stomach capable of handling just about any biological material (rotten flesh, bone etc) so aardwolfs have developed a super powerful digestive system capable of handling tough harvester termites and all the poisons they can produce.
- 2018, Tim Flannery, "A Miocene Bestiary", in Europe: The First 100 Million Years, London: Allen Lane, →ISBN, part II (Becoming Continental), page 108:
  Hyenas evolved in Eurasia during the Miocene from ferret-like ancestors. [...] Today the only dog-like hyena is Africa's termite-eating aardwolf.