Spanish Conversation · Level 69
60 words
Spanish word
asno
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈasno/
Meaning
- masculine noundonkey
Example
Los niños rieron cuando vieron al asno del circo.
The children laughed when they saw the circus donkey.
More examples
El aprendiz trabajó como un asno para terminar el proyecto.
The apprentice worked like a donkey to finish the project.
Core concept
Sturdy long-eared pack animal.
Common phrases
trabajar como un asno
work like a donkey
más tonto que un asno
dumber than a donkey
Similar words
burro: Casual, widely used donkey for farm work and carrying burdens.
mulo: Sterile offspring of a horse and a donkey, used for hauling heavy loads.
jumento: Formal, literary donkey found in older or official writing.
borrico: Regional or archaic donkey name used in dialectal or old-fashioned speech.
Definition in Spanish
Animal de carga con orejas largas y carácter terco, similar al caballo; en sentido figurado, término despectivo para alguien que actúa con poca inteligencia.
Word origin
From Latin asinus, the Spanish form stayed close to the original and first denoted the animal before developing a figurative use to call someone foolish or stubborn.
Usage tips
- Asno is often a blunt, insulting label for a person, and speakers commonly use burro or tonto instead when they want milder or joking language.