The French word is Cochon d'Inde , ( Indian pig ) , the Dutch used to call it guinees biggetje ( Guinean piglet ) , and in Norway , Sweden and Denmark they are called marsvin ( a combination of the Latin word mare for ocean , and Norwegian\/Swedish\/Danish svin which means pig ) . The French term is Cochon d'Inde ( Indian pig ) or cobaye ; the Dutch call it Guinees biggetje ( Guinean piglet ) or cavia , ( while in some Dutch dialects it is called Spaanse rat ) , and in Portuguese the guinea pig is variously referred to as cobaia , from the Tupi word via its Latinization , or as porquinho da Ã ndia ( little Indian pig ) .