Spanish word

cucaracha

Pronunciation

IPA/kukaˈɾatʃa/

Meaning

  • feminine nouncockroach

Example

¡Mira, una cucaracha!

Look, a cockroach!

Illustration for cucaracha (cockroach)

More examples

¡Qué asco, hay una cucaracha en el baño!

Gross, there's a cockroach in the bathroom!

Core concept

Small flat brown insect that appears in kitchens and sewers at night.

Common phrases

  • encontrar una cucaracha

    find a cockroach

  • una cucaracha muerta

    a dead cockroach

Similar words

barata: Small flattened brown-to-black insect commonly found in kitchens, under sinks, and in drains.
insecto: Small animal with six legs, a segmented body, and jointed antennae.
bicho: Small, often bothersome creature or bug with a casual, colloquial tone.

Definition in Spanish

Insecto doméstico nocturno, de cuerpo ovalado y aplanado, que se alimenta de restos orgánicos y aparece en cocinas y alcantarillas.

Word origin

Recorded in Spanish since the Middle Ages, the word is a Romance formation whose exact origin within Iberian dialects is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • A feminine noun, so use la or una and make adjectives agree (una cucaracha grande, la cucaracha negra).

Word lists with this word