Do you know where the name “killer whale” comes from? (1 Viewer)

[Ahsoka]

Killer whale is thought to come from Spanish (asesina-ballenas or something similar), which meant whale killer. It’s thought this morphed into English as killer whale, which while similar, is fundamentally different in meaning. And now we get to have English speakers sharing the fun fact that despite their name, killer whales aren’t even whales (which they are because dolphins are all whales).

 

[Ahsoka]

Language taglist:
@athenaaa @Lexie @Nyaz @Dreamer_of_Songs @Nina @velvet @PrincessChohee @MyLovelyLove @alo @eclipsoul @Villains @Moguri @uran @Chiara @Snailmin

 

[dark_tranquility]

Killer whale is thought to come from Spanish (asesina-ballenas or something similar), which meant whale killer. It’s thought this morphed into English as killer whale, which while similar, is fundamentally different in meaning. And now we get to have English speakers sharing the fun fact that despite their name, killer whales aren’t even whales (which they are because dolphins are all whales).

Always something nice to share

 

[Snailmin]

This is an interesting fact I already knew!

 

[Chohee_nyang]

Dolphins are super cute and friendly, why would anyone give them such a name!

 

[Ahsoka]

Dolphins are super cute and friendly, why would anyone give them such a name!

Not sure about the friendly part Killer whales do eat whales after all

 

[TrinityJade]

I mean they are killer tho

 

[Chohee_nyang]

Not sure about the friendly part Killer whales do eat whales after all

That sounds not-so-friendly rn

 

[Moguri]

oh interesting... I guess in the end both versions of the name make sense