This is the 4064th most frequent Portuguese word.
onça
"Onça" means "jaguar" in English.
In this sentence, 'onça' refers to the animal 'jaguar', specifically the spotted jaguar ('onça-pintada').
Eu vi uma onça-pintada enquanto estava no zoológico.
I saw a jaguar while I was at the zoo.
Here, 'onça' is utilized to emphasize the animal's physical attributes and its symbolic representation of power.
A força da onça é admirável na natureza.
The strength of the jaguar is admirable in nature.
In this usage, 'onça' metaphorically refers to a cat as a symbolic or affectionate comparison to a larger feline.