Panthera
/pænˈθɪərə/noun
A genus of large cats that includes lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars.
Did you know?The Greek word behind Panthera was used for powerful spotted cats, but its deeper origin is uncertain, making the name itself a linguistic mystery rather than a proven “all-beast” meaning.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Greek, 5th–4th Century BCE
Ancient Greek
πάνθηρ (pánthēr)
“A panther or leopard-like large cat; the deeper origin of the word is uncertain.”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Latin
panthera
“A panther or leopard, borrowed from Greek.”
Late Antiquity
Late Latin
panthera
“A large spotted or wild cat, continuing the classical Latin term.”
Middle English, 14th Century
English
panter / panther
“A panther or leopard-like animal, adopted through French and Latin traditions.”
1816
Scientific Latin
Panthera
“A genus name formally established by zoologist Lorenz Oken for certain large cats.”
Modern English
English
Panthera
“The taxonomic genus containing the lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, and related large cats.”
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