How Do You Spell OCELOT?

Pronunciation: [ˈɒsəlˌɒt] (IPA)

The word "ocelot" is often misspelled due to its unique pronunciation. In IPA phonetic transcription, "ocelot" is spelled as /ˈɒsəlɒt/, with the stress on the first syllable. The "c" is pronounced as an "s" and the second "o" is pronounced as a schwa sound. The silent "e" at the end is only used to indicate the long vowel sound in the stressed syllable, and therefore, is often overlooked in spelling. Remembering this phonetic transcription can greatly assist in the accurate spelling of the word "ocelot".

OCELOT Meaning and Definition

1. Ocelot is a noun that refers to a medium-sized wildcat species native to Central and South America. Its binomial name is Leopardus pardalis, and it belongs to the family Felidae, the same family as domestic cats, lions, and tigers. The ocelot is characterized by its striking appearance, typically featuring a beautifully patterned coat consisting of various shades of yellow and brown, accented by dark spots and streaks.

   The average ocelot measures around 28 to 35 inches in length, excluding the tail, which can add an additional 10 to 16 inches. They weigh between 20 to 35 pounds, with males being larger than females. Ocelots possess sharp retractable claws and powerful jaws, allowing them to effectively hunt and capture their prey.

   Primarily nocturnal, ocelots are adept climbers and are known for their agility, making them capable of navigating trees and dense vegetation with ease. Their diet mainly consists of small mammals, birds, lizards, and other reptiles. Ocelots tend to be solitary animals, marking their territories with scent markings and vocalizations.

   Unfortunately, due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and illegal hunting for their pelts, the ocelot population has greatly declined, leading to their classification as a near-threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Efforts are currently being made to conserve their habitats and protect this elegant and fascinating wildcat from further population decline.

2. An animal of the feline tribe found in Mexico.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for OCELOT

• scelet
• zelot
• onslot
• oceant
• omelt
• osceloa
• 0celot
• ocellot
• ocelott
• Ocella
• ocelood
• odelon
• ocloc
• OCElY
• ECpLOT
• osellot
• onevot
• Govelot
• Oceld
• Oceloed
• Scelon
• onslout
• wodelot
• Oceler
• iselot

Etymology of OCELOT

The word "ocelot" comes from the Nahuatl language, which is the language of the Aztecs and other indigenous peoples of Mexico. In Nahuatl, the term for ocelot is "ocēlōtl". This word, in turn, is derived from the Proto-Nahuan term "ōcēlōtl", which means "field tiger". The term "ōcēlōtl" is composed of the words "ōc" (field) and "ēlōtl" (tiger or jaguar). Over time, the word "ocēlōtl" evolved into "ocelot" in English, retaining its association with the small wildcat species found in the Americas.

Similar spelling words for OCELOT

• ocheltree,
• ocellated.

Plural form of OCELOT is OCELOTS