arowana

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noun

Any of various large freshwater fish belonging to the family Osteoglossidae (especially from genera Heterotis, Osteoglossum, and Scleropages), found in South America, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Africa. These fish are mainly carnivorous and are characterized by large, bony scales, a toothed tongue, and a wide, slanted mouth.

OriginKari'na arawana ← Nheengatu arawanã ← Old Tupi aruanã →
UncommonScrabble 10
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Meanings

nounarowana (plural arowanas)

plural arowanas · alternative arahuana · alternative arawana · alternative aruana

  1. Any of various large freshwater fish belonging to the family Osteoglossidae (especially from genera Heterotis, Osteoglossum, and Scleropages), found in South America, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Africa. These fish are mainly carnivorous and are characterized by large, bony scales, a toothed tongue, and a wide, slanted mouth.
    1. USScleropages formosus (Asian bonytongue)

Synonyms & antonyms

Broader
bonytongue

Origin

  1. Old Tupiaruanã
  2. Nheengatuarawanã
  3. Kari'naarawana
  4. Englisharowana

Borrowed from New Latin, specific epithet of Osteoglossum arowana (now Osteoglossu bicirrhosum), borrowed from Guyanese Kari'na arawana (“the fish Osteoglossum bicirrhosum”; or a like form in Macushi), borrowed, probably via Nheengatu arawanã, from Old Tupi aruanã.

More words from Kari'na, Nheengatu, Old Tupi

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Japanese アロワナ
  • アロワナ (arowana)of the family Osteoglossidae
Korean 아로와나
  • 아로와나 (arowana)of the family Osteoglossidae
Portuguese aruanã
  • aruanãof the family Osteoglossidae
Russian арава́на
  • арава́на (aravána)of the family Osteoglossidae
Ukrainian арава́на
  • арава́на (aravána)of the family Osteoglossidae
Cite this entry
APA

arowana. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/arowana

MLA

“arowana.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/arowana. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “arowana,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/arowana.

Source: arowana on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.