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Glite Dictionary
African crocodile

African crocodile

3.9
A large, dangerous crocodile that lives in African rivers and lakes
  • noun
  • South African
translation icon : cocodrilo africano
  • The African crocodile is known for its aggressive nature.

Examples

  • Many villagers are cautious when close to water because African crocodiles are known to attack unexpectedly.

  • During their safari, they spotted an enormous African crocodile basking on the riverbank.

  • The African crocodile is one of the largest and most feared predators in the continent's rivers.

  • Have you ever seen an African crocodile in the wild?

  • The African crocodile is often found basking in the sun along riverbanks.

  • Many tourists visit Africa to observe the African crocodile in its natural habitat.

  • The African crocodile can grow to be over 16 feet long and is known for its powerful jaws.

Synonyms

Nile crocodile
vsAfrican crocodile
  • South African
1 3.9

A large aggressive crocodile that lives in African rivers and lakes

has a broad distribution across the continent rather than a specific habitat
Crocodylus niloticus
vsAfrican crocodile
  • South African
9.9

A large dangerous crocodile that lives in rivers and lakes in Africa

is the nontechnical general description used across everyday contexts

Surface Forms

African crocodile singular
African crocodiles plural

Morphology

African + crocodile

This is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'African' (from Africa) modifies 'crocodile' to indicate a crocodile from Africa. The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents and follows a cross-linguistically common pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words will understand it.

Etymology

African crocodile is a name that uses African for the place and crocodile for the animal, so it simply labels a crocodile that lives in Africa. Picture a large crocodile lying on warm river stones with most of its body in the water, ready to bite, and that image helps you remember it means 'a big, dangerous crocodile from Africa'.