Spanish Conversation · Level 33
75 words
Spanish word
anfibio
Pronunciation
IPA/anˈfiβjo/
Meaning
- masculine nounamphibian
Example
En la clase vimos un anfibio pequeño.
In class we saw a small amphibian.
More examples
Encontré un anfibio pequeño en el jardín.
I found a small amphibian in the garden.
Core concept
Two-stage life cycle vertebrate: aquatic larva and land-dwelling adult.
Common phrases
un anfibio pequeño
small amphibian
especie de anfibio
amphibian species
Similar words
rana: Small hopping amphibian with powerful hind legs and typically smooth, moist skin.
sapo: Stout, toadlike amphibian with rough, warted skin that often lives on land.
tritón: Small tailed amphibian that stays near water and swims actively.
Definition in Spanish
Animal vertebrado que durante su desarrollo tiene una fase acuática y puede vivir también en tierra firme, por ejemplo ranas y salamandras.
Word origin
Anfibio comes from Greek amphi- 'both' plus bíos 'life', introduced into Latin and then Spanish to denote animals that occupy both water and land during their development.
Usage tips
- The spoken stress falls on the second syllable (an-FI-bio) despite no written accent, and the feminine form is anfibia.
Other meanings
- amphibiousadjective
Opposites
- animal terrestreland animalnoun