Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

a leopard cannot change its spots

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.50 in modern English

Syllables: a leop-ard -can-not change it-s spots
IPA

41

Scrabble Score

28

Letters

5

Syllables

14

Unique Chars

Meaning

proverb

One cannot change one's own nature.

Example Sentences

"King.[…]Lyons make Leopards tame. / Mo[wbray]. Yea, but not change his ſpots:"
"Can the Ethiopian change his ſkinne? or the leopard his ſpots?"
"End now all unkindness. Let us put the Jew to ransom, since the leopard will not change his spots, and a Jew he will continue to be."
"The leopard cannot change his spots, old boy."

Etymology

Ultimately from Jeremiah 13:23.

Inflected Forms

a leopard can't change its spots (alternative)

Phrases

what's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh

Frequently Paired Words

what's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh

Synonyms

the wolf may lose his teeth but never his nature the fox may grow grey but never good you can take the person out of the place, but you can't take the place out of the person

Questions

What does a leopard cannot change its spots mean?: One cannot change one's own nature.
Where does a leopard cannot change its spots come from?: Ultimately from Jeremiah 13:23.

How to pronounce a leopard cannot change its spots

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