pig

Everyday

1. A pig is a farm animal with a pink or dark body, a flat nose called a snout, short legs and a curly tail; it says «oink». tree →
2. Calling a person a pig (informal, rude) means they eat too much, are messy, or are greedy. tree →

In the lessons

In science, pigs are mammals; a mother pig is a sow, a father is a boar and a baby is a piglet; they live in a pigsty or pen. On farms they give pork, bacon and ham. In stories: The Three Little Pigs, Peppa Pig, Charlotte's Web. Phrases: guinea pig (a different animal), piggy bank, «when pigs fly» (never).

Examples

• The pig rolled in the mud to keep cool. tree →
• A baby pig is called a piglet. tree →
• Pigs are clever animals. tree →
• The farmer feeds the pigs every morning. tree →
• I saved my coins in a piggy bank. tree →
• The three little pigs built three houses. tree →
• Pigs have a strong sense of smell. tree →
• «I will tidy my room when pigs fly!» tree →

Note

Countable: one pig, two pigs. Myth: pigs are not dirty by nature; they roll in mud because they cannot sweat and need to cool down. A guinea pig is not a pig, it is a small rodent. Calling someone a pig is rude.