Spanish Conversation · Level 79
60 words
Spanish word
canguro
Pronunciation
IPA/kaŋˈguɾo/
Meaning
- noun (m./f.)babysitter
Example
Ella trabaja como canguro los fines de semana.
She works as a babysitter on weekends.
More examples
¿Conoces a algún canguro fiable para esta noche?
Do you know a reliable babysitter for tonight?
Core concept
Person hired to look after children for brief, informal shifts.
Common phrases
contratar un canguro
hire a babysitter
un canguro de confianza
a reliable babysitter
Similar words
niñera: Dedicated in-home caregiver who regularly cares for a family's children.
niñero: Male childcare provider who cares for children in a household setting.
au pair: Live-in young caregiver from abroad who exchanges childcare help for room and board.
cuidador: Caregiver who attends to a child's daily needs and keeps them safe.
Definition in Spanish
Persona que cuida a niños ajenos por horas o sesiones cortas, sin necesidad de relación laboral fija con la familia.
Word origin
Borrowed from the animal canguro (kangaroo), whose mother-protecting image was applied to people who watch children briefly, and it entered Spanish via English from an Australian Aboriginal language.
Usage tips
- Use canguro for occasional or hourly babysitting, while niñera is more likely when referring to a regular, formally employed caregiver.
Other meanings
- kangaroonoun
Related words
- cangurearbabysitverb
- cangureobabysitting jobnoun