سِحْلِيَّة
siḥliyyafeminine
The general Arabic word for lizard is سِحْلِيَّة (siḥliyya). If unsure, use سِحْلِيَّة. Wiktionary also lists ضَبّ (ḍabb) and عَظَاءَة (ʕaẓāʔa).
Meaning: reptile (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| سِحْلِيَّة | siḥliyya | feminine |
| ضَبّ | ḍabb | masculine |
| عَظَاءَة | ʕaẓāʔa | feminine |
| بُرْص | burṣ | masculine |
سِحْلِيَّة is the everyday term for a lizard in general and is used in Modern Standard Arabic.
Which one should you use?
بُرْص (burṣ) refers specifically to a gecko rather than a lizard in general. ضَبّ (ḍabb) names the spiny-tailed lizard of the Arabian deserts. عَظَاءَة (ʕaẓāʔa) is another, more literary word for lizard.
How does it change in a sentence?
سِحْلِيَّة is feminine and its plural is siḥliyāt. ضَبّ and بُرْص are masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
It is said siḥliyya.
Did you know?
- The word ضَبّ ('ḍabb') describes a specific lizard that is treated more like a livestock species than a wild reptile in some cultures. In the Arabian Peninsula, it is a culinary staple with its own specific traditional preparation methods.
- In many Arabic dialects, the word بُرْص ('burṣ'), which means gecko, is used metaphorically to describe someone with skin discoloration or vitiligo. This links the reptile's physical appearance directly to human dermatological conditions.
- The word ضَبّ ('ḍabb') is used in some Arabic idioms to describe someone who is stubborn or refuses to leave their home, reflecting the lizard's habit of burrowing deep into the sand.
Examples in context
- أخذت صورة لِسَحْلِيَةٍ في الصحراء اليوم.Today, I took a picture of a lizard in the desert.
- رَأَيْتُ سِحْلِيَّةً صَغِيرَةً فِي الحَدِيقَةِ.ra'aytu siḥliyyatan ṣaghīratan fī al-ḥadīqah.I saw a small lizard in the garden.
- هَلْ هَذِهِ سِحْلِيَّةٌ؟hal hādhihi siḥliyyah?Is this a lizard?
Example conversation
Yousef and Layla are walking through a desert park.
- يوسف Youssefاُنْظُرِي، هُنَاكَ سِحْلِيَّةٌ عَلَى الصَّخْرَةِ!unẓurī, hunāka siḥliyyatun 'alā al-ṣakhrati!Look, there is a lizard on the rock!
- ليلى Laylaمَا شَاءَ الله، إِنَّهَا جَمِيلَةٌ جِدًّا.mā shā' Allah, innahā jamīlatun jiddan.Wow, it is very beautiful.
- يوسف Youssefهَلْ تُرِيدِينَ لَمْسَهَا؟hal turīdīna lamsahā?Do you want to touch it?
- ليلى Laylaلَا، أَنَا أَخَافُ مِنْهَا.lā, ana akhāfu minhā.No, I am afraid of it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lizard” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
