Pigs Is Pigs?
Whee only just found this but it gave us a good giggle! Walt Disney – Pigs Is Pigs
How whee came to be know as “pigs” is a mystery that only our dear ancestors will ever know the answer to. One idea is that some of our squeaks reminded hoomans of a pig squeal. Whee are shaped quite like pigs too. Whee have a large head compared to our bodies, a short neck, and a rounded rump (yes ’rounded’ Mummy, not fat as you like to say) Also, like pigs, whee do spend most of our of time eating.
Our name sounds much like whee are pigs in many languages. The German word for example is Meerschweinchen, literally “little sea pigs” (sailing ships stopping to get provisions for the New World would pick up groups of guinea pigs, which provided an easily transportable source of fresh meat. Whee are not to happy about that!). The Welsh term is mochyn cwta (‘little pig’), the French Cochon d’Inde (Indian pig), the Dutch used to call us guinees biggetje (Guinean piglet). In Italian the term is either Porcellino d’India (Little Indian Pig) or Cavia Peruviana (Peruvian Cavy). This is not universal but yes, hoomans do think of us as pigs. Not an insult really. Whee know many pigs who are very nice but whee are not pigs!
The scientific name of our species is Cavia porcellus, with porcellus being Latin for “little pig”. Cavia is derived from Portuguese çavia from the Tupi word sawiya, meaning rat!
The origin of “guinea” in “guinea pig” is even harder to explain, and like the pig part, unknown officially! Whee will leave that for another day. For now, here is a diagram which essentially explains us!
(source: Guinea Pig Zone – click on the pigture to see their page)
Nutty, Nacho, Buddy & Basil
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Posted on August 8, 2013, in Piggy Blogs and tagged animal, animals, are guinea pigs pigs, blogstar, british, cavia porcellus, cavies, cavy, cute, disney guinea pigs, funny, funny guinea pigs, guinea pig, guinea pig 2000, guinea pigs, humor, lazy, naughty, pet, pets, photo, pigs is just pigs, rodent, rodents, small furries, small furry, summer, sweet, why are guinea pigs called pigs, why is a guinea pig called a guinea pig, why is a guinea pigs named that. Bookmark the permalink. 33 Comments.
Hutch A Good Life 
Oh guys it doesn’t matter to me what you are called I think you are actually the species called “cutimus maximus fluffamus” and that works for me 😉
Have a great day sweet ones big hugs Fozziemum xxx
Whee like that species name. Maybe whee should request it is changed! 😛
xxxx
Go ahead and put the request in guys ! 🙂 xxxx
I agree with Fozzimum……you could be called “small cement blocks” and we’d all still love you to pieces….!! That illustration chart is most helpful though – we now know what all the parts are for…you seem perfectly equipped…….. 😀
Kitty Hugs, Sammy
Whee are! Now you know why each part of us is required! It all makes sense whee are sure
Have a great day
xxxx
Love the features diagram!
It shows that there is a need for every adorable part of us!
xxxx
Wow – that’s the de luxe model! And even with four-wheel drive. Cool!
Hehehe Yep. Whee are a fancy high grade model!
xxxx
The cartoon must have been the inspiration for the original Star Trek episode of “Tribbles”.
Whee haven’t seen it but whee will take your word for it. It’s a very sweet cartoon
xxxx
Go to Youtube and search for “trouble with tribbles”. There are scenes and you’ll get the idea. Your cartoon was from 1953 and the tribbles were only a little over 10 years later.
Hehehe. Whee say them on youtube and tthey are funny! Whee like them and they are quite like us!
xxxx
Oh yes, the tribbles remind us of cavies!
A friend of mine had a guinea pig named Tribble. 😉
We think you guys are adorable no matter what you’re called. Oh, and if anyone asks, cats is cats, too. Thanks for giving us all that great information. Education is a wonderful thing….at least that’s what Mom keeps telling us!
Whee think it is our duty to educate foolish hoomans. Pets get it, the hoomans take more work ^_^
Have a great day
xxxx
Very cute video too! Thanks for coming over! Wooowooooo, Ku
You’re welcome and thank you ^_^
xxxx
I remember seeing that cartoon before I even knew what a guinea pig was. Real cavies are much cuter and — thankfully — don’t breed so fast. Love the diagram. Have a great weekend guys. 🙂
Whee thought it was pretty funny but you’re right. Real piggies are sooooo much better!
xxxx
Ack, I can’t believe your ancestors were taken on ships to be eaten, that is awful! If anyone asks you if you want to go on a boat ride, RUN!
Boat ride? Ummm no thanks. I forgot my life jacket!
xxxx
One theory of why we are called guinea pigs is that we costed one guinea to by, and when we were eaten (thats shocking! 😦 ) we were layed out like a pig would be. I think its horrible how we are eaten! I think we are called guinea pigs because we are so amazing and are worth guineas!
Whee think they came up with a really different name because whee are soo adorable and special. As for the eating. The hoomans wonder why whee take a nibble of their clothes or fingers occasionally!!
xxxx
That Scottish guy was a little scary!
He was! But very funny too! ^_^
Have a great day
xxxx
either way you guys are totally working the cute factor,xx Speedy
Whee are working this look. Fluffy adorable little piggies!
Hehehe
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Even at the age of 34, I still feel that Disney never disappoints! I’ve never seen guinea pigs in cartoon form…y’all are super adorable even in Technicolor! 😉
Our hoomans love Disney too. The little hoomsnd and the big ones. It is a timeless and wonderful thing!
xxxx
Hehe….Pellet maker made me laugh. I was missing Nutty and thought I’d look back at some old stuff. I guess I missed this one. Cute and clever diagram of the Cavy2000
Whee miss him too. Mummy spent a little while flipping through a photo album earlier. He was such a special piggy.
xxxx