Spanish word

delfín

Pronunciation

IPA/delˈfin/

Meaning

  • masculine noundolphin

Example

¿Has visto algún delfín cerca de la costa?

Have you seen any dolphins near the coast?

Illustration for delfín (dolphin)

More examples

¿Te gustaría nadar con delfines alguna vez?

Would you like to swim with dolphins sometime?

Core concept

Playful-seeming marine mammal known for group hunting and social behavior.

Common phrases

  • nadar con delfines

    swim with dolphins

  • manada de delfines

    pod of dolphins

  • observación de delfines

    dolphin watching

Similar words

ballena: Very large ocean-dwelling mammal with a massive body and deep-diving habits.
pez: Aquatic vertebrate that breathes through gills and lives entirely underwater.
animal marino: Any animal that lives in the sea.
orca: Large, powerful marine mammal with black-and-white markings and a strong, fast swim.

Definition in Spanish

Mamífero marino de cuerpo alargado y aletas, conocido por su sociabilidad e inteligencia, que suele nadar en grupos.

Word origin

Borrowed via Latin delphinus from Greek δελφίς (delphis), a long-established name for the same animal.

Usage tips

  • Spanish speakers reporting sightings commonly use the plural (ver delfines) rather than referring to a single individual.

Related words

  • delfinariodolphinariumnoun

Word lists with this word