Are you familiar with the names of animals in Spanish? Do you know the Spanish equivalents of nouns like "dog," "lion," or "chicken"? Do you know the words for farm animals in Spanish? What about the names of wild animals in Spanish? If you need to improve your vocabulary on these topics, please feel free to explore the following list of animals in Spanish!
As you read along, keep in mind that while this list is in alphabetical order, not all of the letters appear since they don't all correspond with the names of the well-known animals in Spanish that we opted to include. We have additionally added some video clips that will help you to hear how to say the names of most of the animals on this list.
Las abejas reinas vuelan,
The queen bees fly around,
Caption 34, Los Años Maravillosos - Capítulo 6
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*Note: "abeja" is a feminine noun, so we use "la" for "the bee" in singular form.
Veamos un ejemplo más
Let's see another example
utilizando otra palabra femenina singular
using another feminine singular word
que inicia con "a" tónica:
that begins with a stressed "a":
"águila".
"águila" [eagle].
Captions 38-41, Carlos explica - Los artículos en español
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*Note: Although "águila" is feminine, it uses "el" due to the stressed "a" at the beginning, so it's "el águila" in singular.
Una boa, una anaconda, ¡ay no!
A boa, an anaconda, oh, no!
Caption 49, Cleer y Lida - Juego de preguntas y respuestas
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*Note: "anaconda" is a feminine noun, so we use "la" for "the anaconda" in singular form.
Llegó la araña que el idioma daña
It's arrived, the spider that damages the language
Caption 53, Calle 13 - Tango del pecado
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Y la pobre ardilla cayó muerta.
And the poor squirrel dropped dead.
Caption 48, Cleer - El cuento de los cuatro hermanos
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*Note: "ardilla" is a feminine noun, so we use "la" for "the squirrel" in singular form.
Although there are many more animals in Spanish that start with the letter a, we would like to stop here with two more animals: armadillo (armadillo) and avestruz (ostrich). Both of them are masculine nouns, so we use "el" for "the armadillo" and "the ostrich."
¡La ballena! -¡La ballena!
The whale! -The whale!
Caption 9, Guillermina y Candelario - La competencia de baile
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el búfalo,
the buffalo,
Caption 20, Graciela - Los animales
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El Quebrantahuesos
The Bearded Vulture [the name in Spanish means "shatter bones"]
es un buitre excepcionalmente distinto
is an exceptionally distinct vulture
Caption 20, Club de las ideas - Batería de breves
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*Note: "buitre" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the vulture" in singular form.
también tienen hiato palabras como "cohete" o "búho".
words like "cohete" [rocket] or "búho" [owl] also have a hiatus.
Caption 42, Carlos explica - Acentuación Cap. 5: Diptongo, triptongo, hiato
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*Note: "búho" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the owl" in singular form.
porque es el burro más simpático
because he's the nicest donkey
que os vais a encontrar en vuestra vida.
that you're going to encounter in your life.
Captions 38-39, Amaya - El burrito Luz
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Que el buey solo bien se lava.
That the ox alone washes itself well.
Caption 49, Yago - 12 Fianza
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The letter c is quite generous in terms of names of animals in Spanish. Let's look at several of them.
Algunos ejemplos de palabras con dígrafos
Some examples of words with digraphs
incluyen las palabras "caballo".
include the words "caballo" [horse].
Caption 39, Carlos explica - Acentuación Cap. 3: La división en sílabas
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*Note: "caballo" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the horse" in singular form.
Productos típicos de la zona
Typical products of the area
son el queso de cabra y el aceite de oliva.
are goat cheese and olive oil.
Captions 74-76, Rosa - Antequera, Málaga
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*Note: "cabra" is a feminine noun, so we use "la" for "the goat" in singular form.
que ha sido seleccionada desde cachorro
who has been selected since she was a puppy
para ayudar a personas que lo necesitan.
to help people who need it.
Captions 52-53, Isabel Lavesa - Terapia asistida con animales
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*Note: "cachorro" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the puppy" in singular form.
¿Es un cangrejo?
Is it a crab?
Caption 29, Guillermina y Candelario - Un marciano en la playa
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*Note: "cangrejo" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the crab" in singular form.*
¡Nuestro continente con forma de camello!
Our continent in the shape of a camel!
Caption 25, Los Años Maravillosos - Capítulo 12
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*Note: "camello" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the camel" in singular form.
Y... Es muy famoso porque tiene canguros
And... It's very famous because it has kangaroos
Caption 27, El Aula Azul - Piensa rápido - Part 2
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*Note: "canguro" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the kangaroo" in singular form.
Es que el caracol se mueve como un gusanito
It's just that the snail moves like a worm
Caption 25, Guillermina y Candelario - La Casa de Muñecas
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La cebra.
The zebra.
Caption 17, El Aula Azul - Adivinanzas de animales - Part 1
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el cerdo,
the pig,
Caption 13, Graciela - Los animales
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There are multiple names for some animals in Spanish, which is the case of the pig. Some alternative terms include chancho, puerco and marrano.
pero puede cazar incluso un ciervo.
but it can even hunt a deer.
Caption 68, El Aula Azul - Adivinanzas de animales - Part 2
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*Note: "ciervo" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the deer" in singular form.
Sí! El cocodrilo.
Yes! The crocodile.
Caption 39, El Aula Azul - Adivinanzas de animales - Part 2
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"compás" o "colibrí".
"compás" [compass] or "colibrí" [hummingbird].
Caption 30, Carlos explica - Acentuación Cap. 4: Clasificación de las palabras según el acento
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*Note: "colibrí" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the hummingbird" in singular form.
Ustedes saben que el cóndor
You know that the condor
Caption 33, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín - Virginia y el cóndor
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tengo a otro perro y un conejo.
I have another dog, and a rabbit.
Caption 8, Amaya - Apertura del refugio
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*Note: "conejo" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the rabbit" in singular form.
Esa cucaracha, la aplasto yo.
I´ll crush that cockroach.
Caption 27, Muñeca Brava 2 Venganza - Part 7
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*Note: "cucaracha" is a feminine noun, so we use "la" for "the cockroach" in singular form.
*Note: "dragón" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the dragon" in singular form.
Es que el delfín era muy fuerte.
It's just that the dolphin was very strong.
Caption 25, Guillermina y Candelario - El Festival de Verano
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*Note: "dromedario" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the dromedary" in singular form.
un elefante,
an elephant,
Caption 29, Aprendiendo con Silvia - Las emociones
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*Note: "elefante" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the elephant" in singular form.
y dejaría de ser una estrella de mar.
and it wouldn't be a starfish anymore.
Caption 42, Guillermina y Candelario - Un regalo de Estrellas
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*Note: "estrella" is a feminine noun, so we use "la" for "the starfish" in singular form.
un flamenco,
a flamingo,
Caption 30, Aprendiendo con Silvia - Las emociones
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*Note: "flamenco" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the flamingo" in singular form.
siete, la foca,
seven, the seal,
Caption 17, Luis Guitarra - Aprendiendo a contar
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la gallina,
the hen,
Caption 11, Graciela - Los animales
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*Note: "ganso" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the goose" in singular form.
"...el gato,..."
"...el gato" [the cat]...
Caption 8, Clase Aula Azul - Se involuntario - Part 3
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By the way, if you like cats, we would like to invite you to take a look at one of our more popular series: Fermín y los gatos!
uno, el gorila,
one, the gorilla,
Caption 11, Luis Guitarra - Aprendiendo a contar
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No matamos a ningún gusano.
We didn't kill any worm.
Caption 48, Aprendiendo con Silvia - Frases hechas
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*Note: "gusano" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the worm" in singular form.
Por ejemplo, no el hámster,
For example, not "el hámster" [the hamster],
Caption 51, Clase Aula Azul - Se involuntario - Part 4
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la hiena,
the hyena,
Caption 24, Graciela - Los animales
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un hipopótamo,
a hippopotamus,
Caption 27, Aprendiendo con Silvia Las emociones - Part 6
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*Note: "hipopótamo" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the hippopotamus" in singular form.
Iguana.
"Iguana" [Iguana].
Caption 17, Español para principiantes - Las vocales
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*Note: "iguana" is a feminine noun, so we use "la" for "the iguana" in singular form.
Y un día nos sorprendió un jabalí.
And one day, a wild boar surprised us.
Caption 53, Aprendiendo con Silvia - Recuerdos de infancia
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*Note: "jabalí" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the boar" in singular form.
y una jirafa.
and a giraffe.
Caption 31, Aprendiendo con Silvia - Las emociones - Part 6
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*Note: "jirafa" is a feminine noun, so we use "la" for "the giraffe" in singular form.
*Note: "koala" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the koala" in singular form.
El león.
The lion.
Caption 31, El Aula Azul - Adivinanzas de animales - Part 1
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el cachorrito de leopardo
the leopard cub
Caption 31, Animales en familia - Un día en Bioparc: Cachorro de leopardo
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*Note: "leopardo" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the leopard" in singular form.
Yo quiero un lobo domesticado
I want a domesticated wolf
Caption 8, Shakira - Loba
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*Note: "lobo" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the wolf" in singular form.
el loro,
the parrot,
Caption 7, Graciela - Los animales
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*Note: "manatí" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the manatee" in singular form.
Ya a continuación tenemos el mapache sudamericano.
Next, we have the South American raccoon.
Caption 23, Quito - Zoológico de Guayllabamba
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Mariposa de sueño, te pareces a mi alma,
Dream butterfly, you look like my soul,
Caption 18, Chus recita poemas - Neruda y Pizarnik
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*Note: "mariposa" is a feminine noun, so we use "la" for "the butterfly" in singular form.
La Medusa.
The Jellyfish.
Caption 18, Extr@: Extra en español - Ep. 8: La prima de la dueña - Part 2
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un mono,
a monkey,
Caption 28, Aprendiendo con Silvia - Las emociones - Part 6
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*Note: "mono" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the monkey" in singular form.
podría ser la mosca verde de la carne
could be the green flesh fly
Caption 34, Estepona - Orquidario
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La palabra más larga es murciélago. ¿Por qué? Pues porque tiene las cinco vocales dentro de la palabra.
The longest word is bat. Why? Well because it has the five vowels within the word.
Captions 43-45, Karla e Isabel Palabras
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*Note: "murciélago" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the bat" in singular form.
*Note: "narval" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the narwhal" in singular form.
*Note: "nutria" is a feminine noun, so we use "la" for "the otter" in singular form.
*Note: "ñandú" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the rheas" in singular form.
cuatro, el oso gris,
four, the grey bear,
Caption 14, Luis Guitarra - Aprendiendo a contar
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¿Qué crees que pasaba antes de que la oveja empezara a tejer?
What do you think was happening before the sheep began to knit?
Caption 42, Aprendiendo con Silvia - Las emociones
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el pájaro,
the bird,
Caption 16, Graciela - Los animales
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También es el color de la pantera de los dibujos animados
It's also the color of the cartoon panther
Caption 37, El Aula Azul Adivinanzas de colores - Part 1
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el pato,
the duck,
Caption 9, Graciela - Los animales
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el pavo,
the turkey,
Caption 10, Graciela - Los animales
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Sí, mi amigo el pelícano nos ayudó.
Yes, my friend the pelican helped us.
Caption 36, Guillermina y Candelario El Gran Descubrimiento
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tres, el perro,
three, the dog,
Caption 13, Luis Guitarra - Aprendiendo a contar
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¡Es un pez! -¡Un pez mágico!
It's a fish! -A magic fish!
Caption 37, Guillermina y Candelario - Un pez mágico
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*Note: "pez" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the fish" in singular form.
¿Un pingüino?
A penguin?
Caption 19, Guillermina y Candelario - Nuestro Amigo Pinguino
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*Note: "pingüino" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the penguin" in singular form
el pollo,
the chicken,
Caption 12, Graciela - Los animales
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¡El pulpo!
The Octopus!
Caption 26, Extr@: Extra en español - Ep. 4: Sam busca un trabajo
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Seguro que canta como una rana.
I'm sure she sings like a frog.
Caption 20, Extr@: Extra en español - Ep. 8: La prima de la dueña - Part 5
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*Note: "rana" is a feminine noun, so we use "la" for "the frog" in singular form.
¡Eso es para que aprenda a respetar a mi hermana,
That is for you to learn to respect my sister,
rata de alcantarilla!
sewer rat!
Caption 11, Los Años Maravillosos - Capítulo 4
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*Note: "rata" is a feminine noun, so we use "la" for "the rat" in singular form.
¡Un ratón!
A mouse!
Caption 76, NPS No puede ser - 1 - El concurso
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*Note: "ratón" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the mouse" in singular form.
el rinoceronte,
the rhinoceros,
Caption 19, Graciela - Los animales
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¿Por qué el sapo va agarrado a un globo?
Why is the toad holding on to a balloon?
Caption 14, Aprendiendo con Silvia - Las emociones
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la serpiente,
the snake,
Caption 27, Graciela Los animales
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*Note: "serpiente" is a feminine noun, so we use "la" for "the snake" in singular form.
El tiburón ballena, que es el más grande de todos,
The whale shark, which is the biggest of them all,
sólo come plancton.
only eats plankton.
Caption 25, Guillermina y Candelario - La Lleva
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el tigre,
the tiger,
Caption 23, Graciela - Los animales
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el toro,
the bull,
Caption 8, Graciela - Los animales
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Yo estaba cansada y me senté en la tortuga de mar.
I was tired and sat down on the sea turtle.
Caption 13, Guillermina y Candelario - La Abuela Marina
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un tucán,
a toucan,
Caption 26, Aprendiendo con Silvia - Las emociones - Part 6
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*Note: "tucán" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the toucan" in singular form.
y diez, la vaca.
and ten, the cow.
Caption 20, Luis Guitarra - Aprendiendo a contar
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también una yegua
a mare as well,
Caption 34, Quito - Zoológico de Guayllabamba
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*Note: "yegua" is a feminine noun, so we use "la" for "the mare" in singular form.
Observa detenidamente al zorro
Observe carefully the fox
Caption 37, Aprendiendo con Silvia - Las emociones - Part 5
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*Note: "zorro" is a masculine noun, so we use "el" for "the fox" in singular form.
And that's all for our list of animals in Spanish. Do you know more animals in Spanish that you think we should include in this list? If so, don't hesitate to send us your suggestions and comments!
By definition, nobody likes to feel disgusted, and yet disgust is sadly a very common sentiment. Let's learn a few ways in which Spanish speakers express their disgust.
Let's start with the most basic. The expression me da asco (literally "it gives me disgust") has many different translations, depending on the context:
Me da asco, la verdad, mire, señor...
You make me sick, truthfully, look, sir...
Caption 23, Muñeca Brava - 18 - La Apuesta
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Cuando te duele la cabeza, tenés unas náuseas que
When your head hurts, you have nausea that
te da asco todo.
makes everything disgusting to you.
Caption 73, Muñeca Brava - 43 La reunión - Part 5
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This expression is also very interesting because of the idiomatic use of the verb dar (to give), which is used a lot in Spanish to express a wide variety of feelings, from me da miedo (it frightens me), to me da pena (I feel ashamed) and me da gusto (it pleases me). In order to learn it and remember it, we suggest you recall an expression in English that uses the same verb in the same way: "it gives me the creeps," which in Spanish could translate as me da asco or me da escalofríos (it makes me shrivel), or something else, depending on the context. Our friends from Calle 13 use dar repelo (repelo is a coloquial word for "disgust"):
Oye jibarita si te doy repelillo,
Listen, peasant girl, if I give you the creeps,
Residente te quita el frenillo
Residente will take away your stutter
Caption 44, Calle 13 - Tango del pecado
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Other phrases that can also be used in Spanish are me enferma (it makes me sick), and me da náuseas (it makes me feel nauseous). Check out this example:
Verla me da náuseas.
Seeing her makes me sick.
Caption 22, Muñeca Brava - 43 La reunión - Part 1
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Now let's learn some single words that you can use to express your dislikes. The interjection guácala (sometimes written huácala) is used in Mexico, Colombia, Honduras, el Salvador, República Dominicana, and many other Latin American countries. By the way, this word has nothing to do with guacamole (from Nahuatl ahuacatl "avocado" + molli "sauce"), which is delicious.
¡Ay guácala!
Oh, gross!
No, no se puede. ¡Huele a muerto!
No, it's not possible. It smells like a corpse!
Captions 4-5, Kikirikí - Agua
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A similar word is fúchila, which you could also find shortened as fuchi. This word is also used in many Latin American countries, Venezuela, for example:
¡Fuchi! Mejor no respires, pero cálmate, ¿sí?
Ew! Better you don't breathe, but calm down, OK?
Caption 51, NPS No puede ser - 1 - El concurso
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In Spain people use the interjections puaj, puah, or aj:
¡Puaj, este pescado está podrido!
Yuck, this fish is rotten!
Now, in Spanish the antonyms of the verb gustar (to like) and the noun gusto (like) are disgustar (dislike) and disgusto (dislike). However, you should pay attention to the context to learn how to use them. Take, for example, the expression estar a disgusto (to be uncomfortable or unhappy):
Yo ya estaba muy a disgusto en México.
I was already unhappy in Mexico.
Caption 42, Arturo Vega - Entrevista
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If you want to use the verb disgustar to express your dislike about something, you have to remember to always use it with a reflexive pronoun:
Me disgustan las achoas.
I dislike anchovies.
However, it's more common to simply say:
No me gustan las achoas.
I don't like anchovies.
Notice that when you use the verb disgustar (to dislike) the verb is conjugated in the third-person plural (in agreement with las anchoas) and not the first-person singular (yo). If you ever were to say something like me disgusto, which is possible but as common as me enojo (I get angry or upset), that would mean something different:
Me disgusto con Antonio siempre que llega tarde.
I get angry with Antonio whenever he's late.
The noun disgusto, on the other hand, is used as the noun asco (disgust), that is, with the verb dar (to give). The expression dar un disgusto means "to cause displeasure," or "to make someone angry, sad, or upset").
Mi hijo me dio un disgusto muy grande al abandonar la escuela.
My son made me so upset when he quit school.
Finally, the expression matar de disgusto (literally, "to kill someone by means of upsetting him or her") is a common expression that overly dramatic people really like to use:
Esta hija mía me va a matar de un disgusto.
This daughter of mine is going to kill me with disappointment.
Caption 42, Muñeca Brava - 3 Nueva Casa
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Y parece que se ha armado todo un alboroto. -¿Eh?
And it seems it kicked up a big fuss. -Huh?
Caption 48, Yago - 5 La ciudad - Part 7
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Donde realmente se aconglomera todo el relajo
Where all the mess comes together...
y todo el... el desmadre, ¿no?
and all the... the chaos, right?
Captions 41-42, Amigos D.F. - Clima en el DF
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¿Cómo está la familia?
How is the family?
Bien. -Seguro que estuviste haciendo despelotes vos.
Fine. -Surely you were causing trouble.
Captions 2-3, Yago - 1 La llegada - Part 7
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Con todo el quilombo que tuve ¿qué querés?
With all the mess that I had, what do you expect?
Se me escapó.
It came out.
Captions 18-19, Yago - 4 El secreto - Part 2
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Aquí estoy yo, no te va a pasar...
Here I am, [nothing] is going to happen to you...
-Tanto lío por una mucamita.
-So much fuss over a little housemaid.
Caption 39, Muñeca Brava - 44 El encuentro - Part 10
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Now, if you have a taste for more exotic words, we suggest you learn them from the masters, Puerto Rican band Calle 13, who give us three colorful expressions: bullanga (ruckus), burundanga (mess/disarray) and jolgorio (revelry):
Que por ahí viene la ganga con una bullanga
From somewhere the gang is coming with a commotion
a llenarse los ojos con tu burundanga.
to fill up their eyes with your disarray [mix-up, mess].
Captions 48-49, Calle 13 - Cumbia de los Aburridos
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Se formó el jolgorio en el purgatorio
Revelry went on in purgatory
Caption 58, Calle 13 - Tango del pecado
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A basic Spanish spelling rule: whenever you hear a nasal sound (m or n) before a p or b, you have to write m. For example, the first time you hear the word sombrero (hat), you might not be sure if you heard an m or an n sound before the b, but the rule tells us it has to be spelled with an m.
Un sombrero. Listones. Mire qué listones más bonitos
A hat. Ribbons. Look at what beautiful ribbons
para que se haga unos moños.
so that one can make some [hair] buns.
Captions 15-17, El Ausente - Acto 1 - Part 6
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This rule must be applied without exception. When a word that ends in an n is combined with a word that begins with a p or b to form a compound word like cien+pies → ciempiés (centipede) the n becomes an m. Some other examples of this are en+pollo (chicken) → empollar (to sit on eggs, to hatch), en+bala (bundle) → embalar (to pack) and en+belesa (the belesa is a narcotic plant) → embelesar (to captivate).
Vamos a empollar veinte criaturas
Let's hatch twenty children
Caption 16, Calle 13 - Tango del pecado
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Take note, this rule doesn’t apply to v, despite the fact that native Spanish speakers often conflate it with b. In fact, in Spanish, it is also a rule that you should always write n before v.
La gente no me parecía...
The people didn't seem to...
no me parecía el tipo de gente
they didn't seem to be the kind of people
con el que yo me quería involucrar.
I wanted to get involved with.
Captions 80-81, Arturo Vega - Entrevista - Part 2
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This rule is very useful when trying to figure out the proper way to spell certain Spanish words, especially considering that it is not uncommon to hear native speakers replace the m sound with an n sound. Listen to our Nicaraguan friend, Doña Coco:
Y hay mucho cristia'... este... católicos también.
And there's a lot of Christia'... I mean... Catholics also.
Caption 28, Doña Coco - Música
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