Incazelo yesichazamazwi yegama elithi "aardwolf" isilwane esincelisayo esincane, esingenazinambuzane esidabuka empumalanga naseningizimu ye-Afrika. Inekhala elide elicijile, izindlebe ezinkulu, nemithende ehlukile emhlane wayo. I-aardwolf iyilungu lomndeni we-hyena kodwa idla kakhulu umuhlwa esikhundleni senyama. Igama layo lisuselwa egameni lesiBhunu elithi "aard," okusho umhlaba, kanye "nempisi," okusho impisi, ngenxa yokubukeka kwayo okufana nempisi kanye nomkhuba wayo wokuhlala emigodini engaphansi komhlaba.