Pronunciation guide

How to pronounce chameleon

kuh-MEE-lee-un - four syllables, stress on 'MEE'

US/kəˈmi.li.ən/

kəmiliən

UK/kəˈmi.li.ən/

kəmiliən

New to IPA symbols? Read the IPA guide.

Common mistake

The 'ch' is a hard 'k' ('kuh-'), not 'ch' as in 'chair'.

What “chameleon” means

A small to mid-size reptile, of the family Chamaeleonidae, and one of the best known lizard families able to change color and project its long tongue.

A person with inconstant behavior; one able to quickly adjust to new circumstances.

In a sentence

  • The chameleon can change its color to blend into its surroundings.
  • He was a chameleon in the office, always adjusting his behavior to fit the team.

Say it out loud a few times, then check yourself.

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Definitions and examples are derived from Wiktionary, used under CC BY-SA 4.0, then edited by QuickPronounce. Pronunciation data draws on CMUdict.