Spanish Conversation · Level 132
45 words
Spanish word
erizo
Pronunciation
IPA/eˈɾiθo/
Meaning
- masculine nounhedgehog
Example
Vi un erizo en el jardín.
I saw a hedgehog in the garden.
More examples
El erizo salió de noche en busca de comida.
The hedgehog went out at night in search of food.
Core concept
Small spiny mammal that rolls into a defensive ball when threatened.
Common phrases
ponerse como un erizo
curl up like a hedgehog
alimentar a un erizo
feed a hedgehog
Similar words
puercoespín: Large rodent with long, sharp quills that detach to deter predators.
erizo de mar: Marine invertebrate with a round shell covered in spines that lives on the seafloor.
Definition in Spanish
Animal pequeño del grupo de los mamíferos, cubierto de púas y conocido por enrollarse en bola cuando se siente amenazado.
Word origin
The word comes from Latin ericius, originally naming the hedgehog and later applied to spiny sea animals because of their similar rounded shape.
Usage tips
- In Spanish conversation erizo normally means hedgehog, but on menus and in seafood contexts it often denotes sea urchin, frequently listed as erizo de mar.
Other meanings
- sea urchinnoun
Related words
- erizarmake hair stand on endverb