tenrec

T1E1N1R1E1C3
/ˈtɛnɹɛk/

noun

Any of several diverse small mammals, of the family Tenrecidae, many native to Madagascar.

Similar
tenrecidtendrac
OriginFrench tanrec ← Malagasy tàndraka →
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Meanings

nountenrec (plural tenrecs)

plural tenrecs · alternative tanrec · alternative tendrac

  1. Any of several diverse small mammals, of the family Tenrecidae, many native to Madagascar.

    Synonyms: tenrecid

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAny of several diverse small mammals, of the family Tenrecidae, many native to Madagascar.

Similar
tenrecid

More synonyms by meaning

nounsmall often spiny insectivorous mammal of Madagascar; resembles a hedgehog

Similar
tendrac
Broader
insectivore

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Malagasytàndraka
  2. Frenchtanrec
  3. Englishtenrec

From French tanrec, from Malagasy tàndraka or trandraka related to Malay landak (“porcupine”); English from 18th century.

More words from French, Malagasy

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Afrikaans tenrek
  • tenrekmammal of the family Tenrecidae
Chinese Mandarin 馬島蝟 /马岛猬
  • 馬島蝟 /马岛猬 (Mǎdǎo wèi)mammal of the family Tenrecidae
Finnish tanrekki
  • tanrekkimammal of the family Tenrecidae
Polish tenrek
  • tenrekmammal of the family Tenrecidae
Romanian tanrec
  • tanrecmammal of the family Tenrecidae
Thai เทนเรค
  • เทนเรค (teen-rêek)mammal of the family Tenrecidae
Turkish tenrek
  • tenrekmammal of the family Tenrecidae

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

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Cite this entry
APA

tenrec. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tenrec

MLA

“tenrec.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tenrec. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tenrec,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tenrec.

Source: tenrec on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.