# savannah

/səˈvænə/ (US) · /sɐvˈænɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/savannah
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. a city or river

noun · CEFR B2

the name of a famous city and river in the state of Georgia, USA.

For teachers: a major port city in Georgia, USA, and the river that forms the border between Georgia and South Carolina.

- Savannah is famous for its beautiful historic squares and old oak trees.
- The Port of Savannah remains one of the busiest container terminals on the Atlantic coast, significantly impacting the regional economy.

### 3. a person's name

noun · CEFR A2

a common name for a girl.

For teachers: a female given name of Spanish origin, derived from the word for a treeless plain.

- My friend Savannah is moving to London to start her new job.
- Savannah was named after the city where her parents first met during their summer travels.

### 4. a type of cat

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a large, tall breed of pet cat that looks a bit like a wild leopard.

For teachers: a hybrid cat breed produced by crossing a serval with a domestic cat. Usually capitalized.

- A Savannah cat can jump very high because of its long back legs.
- The Savannah is prized by exotic pet enthusiasts for its striking coat patterns and dog-like loyalty.

## Examples

- The lions moved slowly across the dry savannah.
- During the dry season, many animals on the African savannah travel long distances to find water holes.
- The ecosystem of the savannah is maintained by a delicate balance of grazing pressure and periodic fires that prevent forests from encroaching on the grasslands.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.