Spanish Conversation · Level 101
60 words
Spanish word
galápago
Pronunciation
IPA/gaˈlapaɣo/
Meaning
- masculine nounGalapagos tortoise
Example
En las Galápagos vimos un galápago.
In the Galapagos we saw a Galapagos tortoise.
More examples
¿Has visto alguna vez un galápago en libertad?
Have you ever seen a Galapagos tortoise in the wild?
Core concept
Giant domed land tortoise native to the Galápagos Islands.
Similar words
tortuga: Reptile with a protective shell that lives on land or in water.
tortuga gigante: Exceptionally large land tortoise noted for its great body size.
Definition in Spanish
Designa la tortuga gigante endémica de las islas Galápagos; tortuga terrestre de gran tamaño.
Word origin
From the place name Galápagos (the islands named for their large tortoises) and ultimately from an old Iberian Spanish word for a tortoise, with the deeper origin uncertain.
Usage tips
- In everyday speech speakers often use tortuga or tortuga gigante instead of galápago, which is reserved mainly for the specific Galápagos tortoise.