Did You Know? 'Dinosaur' Means 'Terrible Lizard' in Greek!
The word 'dinosaur' was invented in 1842 by combining the Greek words for 'terrible' and 'lizard'!
“Dinosaur” Means “Terrible Lizard”! 🦕
The word “dinosaur” was invented in 1842 by British scientist Sir Richard Owen. He combined two Greek words: “deinos” (terrible/fearfully great) and “sauros” (lizard).
But here’s the funny thing: dinosaurs weren’t actually lizards! They were a completely different group of reptiles. And many of them weren’t “terrible” at all — some were gentle plant-eaters the size of chickens! Owen chose the name because the fossils he’d seen were enormous and awe-inspiring.
Dino Art Time 🎨
Draw your favorite dinosaur with a name tag that shows what its name means! Ask your kids: “If you discovered a NEW dinosaur, what would you name it?”
Fun fact bonus: The closest living relatives of dinosaurs aren’t lizards — they’re birds! 🐔 That means every time you see a chicken, you’re looking at a tiny dinosaur descendant!
