カメレオン
kamereon[ka̠me̞ɾe̞õ̞ɴ]
The English word "chameleon" is translated into Japanese as カメレオン (kamereon).
カメレオン refers to the reptile known as a chameleon.
Meaning: reptile (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a loanword from English, written in Katakana, the script used for foreign loanwords.
How do you pronounce it?
kamereon
Did you know?
- While カメレオン is the standard term, Japanese has a poetic native word 変色竜 which literally translates to 'color-changing dragon'.
- The word カメレオン is etymologically linked to the Dutch 'kameleon', meaning much of its phonetic structure arrived in Japan via European trade routes rather than directly from English.
- When used to describe a person, カメレオン refers to someone who can seamlessly shift their personality to blend into any social environment.
Examples in context
- カメレオンは皮膚の色を変えることができます。The chameleon can change its skin color.This sentence is useful for describing the ability of the カメレオン to change its skin color.Tatoeba #11513177 by small_snow, translation #4149506 by Hybrid
- 小さなカメレオンが木の上にいます。Chiisana kamereon ga ki no ue ni imasu.A small chameleon is on the tree.
- 彼はカメレオンの飼育に興味があります。Kare wa kamereon no shiiku ni kyoumi ga arimasu.He is interested in raising chameleons.
Example conversation
Yota and Yui are looking at animals at a zoo.
- 結衣 Yui見て、陽太！カメレオンがいるよ。Mite, Yota! Kamereon ga iru yo.Look, Yota! There is a chameleon.
- 陽太 Yota本当だ。どこに隠れているのかな？Honto da. Doko ni kakurete iru no kana?You're right. I wonder where it's hiding?
- 結衣 Yuiあそこに緑色のカメレオンが見えるよ。Asoko ni midori-iro no kamereon ga mieru yo.I can see a green chameleon over there.
- 陽太 Yotaすごいね。うまく化けているよ。Sugoi ne. Umaku bakete iru yo.Amazing. It's camouflaging well.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chameleon” translations and entries カメレオン, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries カメレオン, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
