Is a goanna the same as an iguana?

No. They are from different families. Iguanas are primarily herbivorous and native to the Americas. Goannas (monitor lizards) are carnivorous/omnivorous and native to Africa, Asia, and Australasia.

Are goannas dangerous to humans?

Large goannas have powerful claws, sharp teeth, and can deliver a painful, bacteria-laden bite. They are not typically aggressive unless cornered or provoked, but they should be treated with caution and respect.

Where in the world would I commonly hear the word 'goanna' used?

Almost exclusively in Australia. It is a core part of Australian English vernacular for describing native monitor lizards.

What's the biggest species of goanna?

The perentie (Varanus giganteus) is the largest, reaching lengths of over 2.5 metres (8 feet).

How do you pronounce “goanna”?

Goanna: in British English it is pronounced /ɡəʊˈæn.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡoʊˈæn.ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

goanna: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low (specific to Australia/Natural History contexts)

UK/ɡəʊˈæn.ə/US/ɡoʊˈæn.ə/

Informal/Colloquial (in Australian English); Technical (in zoology/herpetology)

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “goanna” mean?

Any of various large, carnivorous monitor lizards native to Australia.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

Any of various large, carnivorous monitor lizards native to Australia.

Any large, aggressive Australian lizard, typically from the Varanus genus. The term is a corruption of 'iguana' (a different type of lizard found in the Americas), applied by early European settlers to Australian reptiles.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The word is rarely used in the UK or US except in contexts related to Australian culture, wildlife documentaries, or herpetology. In the US, it is primarily recognized as an Australianism. In the UK, it may be slightly more familiar due to stronger cultural ties with Australia.

Connotations

In Australian English: evokes the bush, adventure, danger, and national identity. Outside Australia: exotic, dangerous wildlife, a symbol of Australia.

Frequency

Very low frequency outside Australia. Within Australia, it is common in regional speech and nature contexts, less so in urban formal speech.

Grammar

How to Use “goanna” in a Sentence

See a [goanna]A goanna [climbed/scurried/raced] up the tree.The [size] of a goanna.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

Australian goannabig goannamonitor lizard/goannarun like a goannatree goanna

medium

goanna lizardspotted goannagiant goannachased by a goannagoanna hunting

weak

scaly goannawild goannafrightening goannaold goannagoanna country

Examples

Examples of “goanna” in a Sentence

verb

British English

(Rarely verbed) The lizard goanna'd its way up the tree.

American English

(Not used as a verb in AmE)

adverb

British English

(Not used as an adverb)

American English

(Not used as an adverb)

adjective

British English

(Attributive use only) He had a goanna-like agility.
A goanna-skin hat.

American English

(Attributive use only, rare) The documentary showed goanna behaviour.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Virtually never used, except potentially in tourism marketing for Australia.

Academic

Used in zoology, herpetology, and Australian ecological studies. Often clarified with the scientific Latin name.

Everyday

Common in Australian English, especially in rural areas. Used in conversation, news reports about bush encounters, and children's stories.

Technical

Used as a common name alongside precise species names (e.g., Varanus varius, the lace monitor or tree goanna).

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “goanna”

Strong

perentie (for the largest species)sand goannalace monitor

Neutral

monitor lizard

Weak

big lizardreptile

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “goanna”

mammal bird insect

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “goanna”

Incorrect: 'We saw an iguana in the Australian desert.' (Correct: 'We saw a goanna...')
Incorrect: 'Goanna' is a scientific genus name. (It is a folk/common name.)
Spelling: Confusing 'goanna' with 'iguana'.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No. They are from different families. Iguanas are primarily herbivorous and native to the Americas. Goannas (monitor lizards) are carnivorous/omnivorous and native to Africa, Asia, and Australasia.
: Large goannas have powerful claws, sharp teeth, and can deliver a painful, bacteria-laden bite. They are not typically aggressive unless cornered or provoked, but they should be treated with caution and respect.
: Almost exclusively in Australia. It is a core part of Australian English vernacular for describing native monitor lizards.
: The perentie (Varanus giganteus) is the largest, reaching lengths of over 2.5 metres (8 feet).
: Any of various large, carnivorous monitor lizards native to Australia.
: Goanna is usually informal/colloquial (in australian english); technical (in zoology/herpetology) in register.
: Goanna: in British English it is pronounced /ɡəʊˈæn.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡoʊˈæn.ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“Run like a goanna (to run very fast)”
“As hungry as a goanna”
“To have a hide like a goanna (to be thick-skinned or insensitive)”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine an Australian saying 'GO and see that ANNA!' pointing at a big lizard. 'GO-ANNA' sounds like 'goanna'.

Conceptual Metaphor

DANGER IS A GOANNA (e.g., 'He's as dangerous as a cornered goanna'); SPEED IS A GOANNA (e.g., 'He took off like a goanna').

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

While hiking in the Australian bush, we were startled by a large, dark-coloured scrambling over the rocks.

Multiple Choice

What is the origin of the word 'goanna'?