Spanish Conversation · Level 60
76 words
Spanish word
cigarra
Pronunciation
IPA/θiˈɣara/
Meaning
- feminine nouncicada
Example
En verano, la cigarra canta al mediodía.
In summer, the cicada sings at noon.
More examples
Por la tarde se escucha el canto de la cigarra en la plaza.
In the afternoon, the cicada song is heard in the square.
Core concept
Loud cicada calling at midday on a leaf.
Common phrases
oír a la cigarra
hear the cicada
canto de la cigarra
cicada song
las cigarras del verano
summer cicadas
Similar words
chicharra: Sings loudly at midday from leaves and carries a colloquial regional tone in speech.
cícada: Sings loudly at midday from leaves and carries a formal, scientific tone in writing.
Definition in Spanish
Insecto que emite un canto potente en verano y que, en cuentos y refranes, simboliza a quien vive despreocupado disfrutando del momento.
Word origin
Comes from Latin cicada (from Greek kikadē) via Romance sound changes and its form originally imitates the insect's song.
Usage tips
- In Spanish culture cigarra evokes the ant-and-grasshopper fable, so calling a person cigarra often signals a reproach about idleness or carefree living.