The word ‘lion’ is derived from Latin: leo and Ancient Greek: λέων (leon). The word lavi (Hebrew: לָבִיא‎) may also be related. The generic name Panthera is traceable to the classical Latin word ‘panthÄ“ra’ and the ancient Greek word πάνθηρ ‘panther’. Panthera is phonetically similar to the Sanskrit word पाण्डर pând-ara meaning ‘pale yellow, whitish, white’.