noun

caiman

KAY-muhn

Caiman (noun) means a crocodile-like reptile found in Central and South America, related to alligators. Example: “A caiman slid silently into the murky river.”

noun

A crocodile-like reptile found in Central and South America, related to alligators.

"A caiman slid silently into the murky river."

"The black caiman is one of the largest predators in the Amazon."

How to Use Caiman

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA type of alligator-like reptile native to the Americas.

Common mistake

Not to be confused with "Cayman," the island chain — the spellings are often mixed up.

Easily confused with

cayman →

Word Forms

caimans plural

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

A _____ slid silently into the murky river.

Etymology

From Spanish caimán or Portuguese caimão, itself from a Cariban word, acayouman.

Origin: Spanish

Rhymes for caiman

iman Neiman Merriman Harriman Suleiman

See all rhymes for caiman →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “caiman” mean?

The word “caiman” means a crocodile-like reptile found in Central and South America, related to alligators. In plain terms, a type of alligator-like reptile native to the Americas.

How do you pronounce “caiman”?

“Caiman” is pronounced KAY-muhn (/ˈkeɪ.mən/ in IPA).

How do you use “caiman” in a sentence?

Here is “caiman” used in a sentence: “A caiman slid silently into the murky river.”

What part of speech is “caiman”?

“Caiman” is a noun.

Where does the word “caiman” come from?

The word “caiman” comes from Spanish. From Spanish caimán or Portuguese caimão, itself from a Cariban word, acayouman.

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Vocabulary lists that include caiman:

Words With Spanish Origins