鱷魚
kho̍k-hî
The Hokkien word for crocodile is 鱷魚 (kho̍k-hî).
The term refers to the reptile known as a crocodile.
Meaning: reptile (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
kho̍k-hî
Did you know?
- In the folklore of Taiwan and Fujian, crocodiles are sometimes conflated with dragons, leading to the use of dragon-related descriptors when discussing kho̍k-hî in mythological contexts.
- The syllable hî in kho̍k-hî means 'fish', which reflects an old linguistic tendency to classify many aquatic animals as types of fish regardless of their biological class.
- If you were to use the term 鱷魚 in a traditional Hokkien opera, the pronunciation would follow specific melodic rules that differ from everyday conversational Hokkien.
Example conversation
Guoqiang and Xiaowen are at the zoo.
- 國強 Kok-kiang曉雯，你看那隻鱷魚！Xiǎowén, lí khuànn hit tsia ê-gú!Xiaowen, look at that crocodile!
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun哇，牠看起來好可怕。wa, i khàn-khí-lâi hó khà-siáⁿ.Wow, it looks so scary.
- 國強 Kok-kiang鱷魚的牙齒很尖。ê-gú ê ngia-tsí tsiân tsim.The crocodile's teeth are very sharp.
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun我們快走吧。lán kuài tsáu-pà.Let's leave quickly.
