elephant
elephant
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "elephant" is /ˈɛlɪfənt/ (General American) or /ˈelɪfənt/ (Received Pronunciation).
Sound Breakdown by Syllable:
el- (/ˈɛl/)
-e- (/ɪ/ or /ə/)
-phant (/fənt/)
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: elephant
Plural Noun: elephants
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A very large, grey-skinned, herbivorous mammal native to Africa and Asia, characterized by its long, prehensile trunk, large flapping ears, and tusks (typically in males). Elephants are the largest land animals and are known for their intelligence, social structures, and long lifespan.
Synonyms: pachyderm, behemoth, giant (in a metaphorical sense of size)
Antonyms: mouse, shrew, pygmy (referring to size)
(Figurative) Something that is uncommonly large, cumbersome, or difficult to manage. Often used in the idiom "elephant in the room," referring to an obvious problem or issue that everyone is aware of but avoids discussing.
Synonyms: leviathan, colossus, monster, burden
Antonyms: trifle, cinch, breeze (referring to ease of management)
Examples of Use
Books:
"For more than a decade, Jenna Metcalf has never stopped thinking about her mother, Alice, who mysteriously disappeared in the wake of a tragic incident involving elephants."(From Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult)
"When a fortuneteller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions to ask about the elephant." (From The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo)
The enduring children's book series, Babar the Elephant, chronicles the adventures of an orphaned elephant who leaves the jungle, visits a city, and eventually returns to become king. (First published in 1931 by Jean de Brunhoff)
Newspapers and Online Publications:
"Elephants damage orchards at Chettalli horticultural station."(Times of India, July 2025) - This headline reports on human-wildlife conflict in India.
"Watch: Elephant interrupts song for some extra love—internet calls it 'beautiful jealousy'." (Times of India, July 2025) - An article featuring a viral video highlighting the emotional intelligence of elephants.
"At Over 100 Years Of Age, The World's Oldest Elephant Passes Away In India."(IFLScience, July 2025) - News of the passing of a remarkably long-lived elephant.
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: The animated Disney classic Dumbo (1941) tells the story of a young circus elephant with unusually large ears who learns to fly. The live-action remake was released in 2019.
Television: Mr. Snuffleupagus, a large, fuzzy character on the children's show Sesame Street, was initially thought to be Big Bird's imaginary friend but was later revealed to be a real, albeit elephant-like, creature.
Music: The phrase "the elephant in the room" has been used in various song lyrics to denote an obvious but unspoken issue.
Circus: Historically, elephants were a staple act in circuses worldwide, though many circuses have now phased them out due to animal welfare concerns.
General Public Discourse:
"We need to address the elephant in the room: our budget deficit is unsustainable." (Common idiom used in political or business discussions to refer to an obvious problem nobody wants to discuss.)
"That new policy is a total white elephant; it cost a fortune but serves no practical purpose." (Referring to something expensive but useless, often in discussions about public spending or large projects.)
"The conservation efforts for African elephants are critical, given the ongoing poaching crisis." (Discussed in environmental advocacy, news, and scientific communities.)
"Many tourist destinations are now promoting ethical tourism, discouraging activities like elephant riding in favor of observing them in their natural habitats." (A topic of growing debate and awareness among travelers and tourism organizations.)
10 Quotes Using Elephant
"One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know." (Groucho Marx)
"I meant what I said, and I said what I meant… An elephant's faithful, one hundred per cent!" (Dr. Seuss, Horton Hatches the Egg)
"Nature's great masterpiece, an elephant; the only harmless great thing." (John Donne)
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality." (Desmond Tutu)
"When eating an elephant take one bite at a time." (Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.)
"Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt." (Pierre Trudeau)
"The question is, are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?" (David Attenborough)
"Women and elephants never forget." (Dorothy Parker)
"Words are cheap. The biggest thing you can say is 'elephant'." (Charlie Chaplin)
"If elephants didn't exist, you couldn't invent one." (Lyall Watson)
Etymology
The word "elephant" has a fascinating journey through time!
It comes to us from the Latin word "elephas" (or "elephantis" in a different form). This Latin word, in turn, was a Latinized version of the Ancient Greek word "elephas" (or "elephantos").
Interestingly, when the Greek word "elephas" was first used, especially by early Greek writers like Homer, it actually referred to "ivory", not the animal itself. This makes sense, as ivory was a valuable material traded from distant lands long before many Europeans would have seen a live elephant.
It was only later, after the time of the Greek historian Herodotus (around the 5th century BC), that the Greek word "elephas" started to also refer to the animal we know as the elephant. This change likely happened as Greeks had more direct contact with these creatures, especially as they were used in warfare in some ancient kingdoms.
The word then traveled from Latin into Old French as "olifant" around the 12th century, and finally made its way into Middle English as "olyfaunt" around the year 1300. Over time, it was re-spelled to more closely match its Latin and Greek roots, giving us the "elephant" we use today.
So, in short:
First known use (meaning "ivory"): Ancient Greek, possibly from a non-Indo-European language like Phoenician.
First known use (meaning "the animal"): Later in Ancient Greek, after much contact with the animals.
Journey to English: Greek → Latin → Old French → Middle English → Modern English.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Elephant
The elephant in the room: An obvious problem or difficult situation that everyone is aware of but nobody wants to talk about.
A white elephant: A possession that is expensive to maintain and difficult to dispose of, and which is often useless or unprofitable. (Originates from the historical practice of the King of Siam giving albino elephants as gifts to courtiers he wished to ruin, as the animals were sacred and could not be put to work, but were incredibly costly to feed and house.)
Have a memory like an elephant / An elephant never forgets: To have an exceptionally good memory, capable of remembering details for a very long time.
Like an elephant in a china shop: To be very clumsy or awkward, especially in a delicate situation where one might cause damage or offense.
To see the elephant: To experience something profound, shocking, or overwhelming, often related to the realities of war or a significant life event. (Less common in modern usage, but historically referred to the novelty of seeing an elephant, a rare and impressive sight.)
When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers: When powerful entities or individuals clash, it is the weaker or innocent parties who suffer the consequences. (An African proverb.)
To make an elephant out of a mosquito: To exaggerate a small problem or issue, making it seem much larger and more significant than it truly is.
Elephant's graveyard: A mythical place where old or dying elephants are said to go. Figuratively, it can refer to a place where old things or ideas are discarded or forgotten.
To have the hide of an elephant: To be very thick-skinned, meaning one is not easily offended or bothered by criticism or insults.
Eat an elephant one bite at a time: To tackle a large, overwhelming task by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable steps.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of elephant from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
