How do you say "iguana" in Chinese?

鬣蜥

liè xī

Noun Hanzi

In Chinese, "iguana" is 鬣蜥 (liè xī).

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Pronunciation

Try saying "liè xī" — fourth tone, then first tone — where snapping downward fast, like giving a short order; then the next syllable is held flat and steady, almost like humming one note.

Writing and usage

鬣蜥 is written using hanzi. It's a noun, part of the vocabulary taught in the Noun Town language learning game.

Example sentence

绿鬣蜥停在阳光明媚的岩石上。

lǜ liè xī tíng zài yáng guāng míng mèi de yán shí shàng 。

The green iguana rested on a sunny rock.

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How to remember 鬣蜥

Picture the scene from "The green iguana rested on a sunny rock" — that image locks onto "liè xī" for iguana.

Related words

Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.

Questions about 鬣蜥

How do you pronounce 鬣蜥?

Try saying "liè xī" — fourth tone, then first tone — where snapping downward fast, like giving a short order; then the next syllable is held flat and steady, almost like humming one note.

Is 鬣蜥 formal or casual?

鬣蜥 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.

How is 鬣蜥 used in Chinese?

鬣蜥 is used the same way as the equivalent English noun. For example: 绿鬣蜥停在阳光明媚的岩石上。 (The green iguana rested on a sunny rock.).

Where can I practice Chinese words for free?

You can play free Chinese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, no sign-up required. Every word in the Chinese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"Iguana" in other languages

Curated by Callan Ratcliffe

This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Chinese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation. Want to play the full game? Get Noun Town on Steam.

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