iguana (English)

Where does "iguana" come from?

The word 'iguana' originated in the Taíno language as 'iwana,' reflecting the linguistic roots of the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. It was later adopted into Spanish and eventually borrowed into English to describe the iconic tropical lizard. While it began as a specific term in the Arawakan language family, its usage expanded as explorers encountered these reptiles across the Americas and beyond.

Full etymology tree

• iguana (English), 'A green iguana (Iguana iguana), a large tropical American lizard often kept as a pet.'
  • borrowed iguana (Spanish), 'iguana'
    • borrowed *iwana (Taíno), 'iguana'
      • inherited *root (Proto-Arawak)

Direct ancestors

• iguana (Spanish)
• iwana (Taíno)

Updated June 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris