Spanish word

caballo

Pronunciation

IPA/kaˈβaʝo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounhorse

Example

Mi caballo es muy tranquilo.

My horse is very calm.

Illustration for caballo (horse)

More examples

El caballo de la granja duerme en el establo.

The farm horse sleeps in the stable.

Core concept

Domesticated four-legged animal used for riding and pulling loads.

Common phrases

  • caballo de carreras

    racehorse

  • caballo salvaje

    wild horse

  • montar a caballo

    ride a horse

Similar words

yegua: Mature female horse, especially one kept for breeding.
potro: Juvenile horse in its early growth stages.
pony: Horse of small height and compact build, often ridden by children.

Definition in Spanish

Mamífero herbívoro domesticado de cuatro patas, caracterizado por su capacidad para ser montado y por su importancia histórica en el transporte y el trabajo.

Word origin

From Vulgar Latin caballus 'packhorse', a Late Latin term for animals used to carry people and cargo that developed into Spanish caballo.

Usage tips

  • The phrase a caballo often means 'on horseback' but also appears in idioms such as a caballo entre meaning 'straddling' or 'between two things', so interpret it by context.

Other meanings

  • knightnoun
  • steednoun

Word lists with this word