caimán
/kaiˈman/masculine
The English word "caiman" is translated into Spanish as caimán. Wiktionary also lists yacaré and taludín.
Meaning: alligator relative (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| caimán | /kaiˈman/ | masculine |
| yacaré | /ʝakaˈɾe/ | masculine |
| taludín | /taludin/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
The term refers to an alligator relative.
Which one should you use?
While caimán is the standard term, yacaré is also used to refer to a caiman and taludín is another specific term for this animal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In South America, particularly in Argentina and Paraguay, the term yacaré is used to refer to a caiman.
How does it change in a sentence?
All three forms provided, caimán, yacaré and taludín, are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /kaiˈman/.
Did you know?
- In some regions, caimán is used metaphorically to describe a person who is opportunistic or takes advantage of others.
- The word caimán actually traces its roots back to the Taíno people of the Caribbean rather than Spanish or Latin.
Examples in context
- No es un cocodrilo, es un caimán.It's not a crocodile, it's a caiman.This sentence is useful for distinguishing a caimán from a crocodile.Tatoeba #7865791 by Seael, translation #13656615 by araneo
- Vi un yacaré enorme en el río.I saw a huge caiman in the river.
- El caimán es un reptil semiacuático.The caiman is a semi-aquatic reptile.
- Los crocodílidos incluyen al caimán de anteojos y al caimán negro.Crocodiles include the spectacled caiman and the black caiman.
- Vimos un caimán en el río.We saw a caiman in the river.
- El caimán está cerca de la orilla.The caiman is near the shore.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are looking at a nature documentary on TV.
- Mateo¿Es ese un cocodrilo o un caimán?Is that an alligator or a caiman?
- SofíaParece un caimán por su forma.It looks like a caiman because of its shape.
- MateoEl caimán es muy impresionante.The caiman is very impressive.
- SofíaSí, es un animal muy grande.Yes, it is a very large animal.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “caiman” translations and entries caimán, yacaré, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caimán, yacaré, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
