Why are geni pigs called that i maen there not italin and ther not pork either why are they called t

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The scientific name of the common species is Cavia porcellus, with porcellus being Latin for "little pig". Cavia is New Latin; it is derived from cabiai, the animal's name in the language of the Galibi tribes once native to French Guiana.[15] Cabiai may be an adaptation of the Portuguese 莽avia (now savia), which is itself derived from the Tupi word sauj谩, meaning rat.[16] Guinea pigs are called quwi or jaca in Quechua and cuy or cuyo (pl. cuyes, cuyos) in the Spanish of Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.[17] Paradoxically, breeders tend to use the more formal "cavy" to describe the animal, while in scientific and laboratory contexts it is far more commonly referred to by the more colloquial "guinea pig".[18]

How the animals came to be thought of as "pigs" is not clear. They are built somewhat like a pig, with a large head relative to the body, a stout neck, and a rounded rump with no tail of any consequence; some of the sounds they emit are very similar to those made by pigs, and they also spend a large amount of time eating.[19] They can survive for long periods of time in small quarters, like a 'pig pen', and were thus easily transported on ships to Europe.[20]

The animal's name carries porcine connotations in many European languages. The German word for them is Meerschweinchen, literally "little sea pigs". This derives from nautical history: sailing ships stopping to reprovision in the New World would pick up stores of guinea pigs, which provided an easily transportable source of fresh meat; Meerschwein is German for porpoise, which was another food source for sailors. The French term is Cochon d'Inde (Indian pig); the Dutch used to call it guinees biggetje (Guinean piglet), and in Portuguese the guinea pig is sometimes referred to as porquinho da 脥ndia (little Indian pig). This is not universal; for example, the common Spanish word is conejillo de Indias (little rabbit of India / the Indies).[17]