The Lexicon
The Faunamorph & Floramorph Lexicon is an independent project that gathers words, phrases, and idioms from the natural world (animals, plant, and other parts nature) to describe something other than the word of origin.
The project has been a work in progress for over 30 years. Its latest stage of evolution is this site, which houses the collection of over 10,000 entries, primarily in English but also in 21 other languages. The linguistic ecosystem is connected in the ways that nature is, and we welcome visitors to explore as if you were visiting your favorite place in nature. Wander, search, use language learning tools, play games, add new entries, and enjoy the world of
wonderful words and idioms.
We monkey around, aping one another, howling about it being a dog’s life, and acting like cool cats, but we’re really only winging it; so hold your horses, you’re a lucky dog and the cat’s meow even if you are henpecked and having a total cow about it; consequently, I say holy mackerel you silly goose! – be bullish about fledgling ideas from a sheepish, wooly-headed silverback who runs around like a chicken with its head cut off, wanting you to be just as snug as a bug in a rug having more fun than a barrel full of…
…monkeys!
 LION FISH |  COOL CATS |  A HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR |
|---|---|---|
 MONKEY AROUND |  CROCODILE TEARS |  WOLF IN SHEEPS CLOTHING |
 TIGER BUTTERFLY |  LOVE BIRDS |  When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. |
Evaristo Nugkuag - Aguaruna Indian and first president of COICA
(Coordinadora de Organzaciones Indígenas de la Cuenca Amazónica - Indigenous Coordinating Organization of the Amazon Basin)
THE PHILOSOPHY
Our language reveals who we are…and who we think we are.
Harvesting, sifting, and winnowing faunamorphs and floramorphs can be an immensely enjoyable endeavor for a wordshark. You can search the woods, skies, or underwater world like a treasure hunt. These words can teach us a lot about human nature and how we view, engage with, and misconstrue the animal kingdom and the plant world (not fauna- or floramorph), from which we stem and in which we are deeply rooted (floramorphs!). ​
