Spanish Conversation · Level 122
60 words
Spanish word
gusano
Pronunciation
IPA/guˈsano/
Meaning
- masculine nounearthworm
Example
Vi un gusano en el jardín.
I saw an earthworm in the garden.
More examples
En el huerto encontré un gusano de tierra.
In the vegetable garden I found an earthworm.
Core concept
Small soft segmented worm wriggling through soil.
Common phrases
gusano de tierra
earthworm
Similar words
lombriz: Common earthworm that burrows through garden and field soil.
oruga: Plump larva of moths or butterflies, often hairy or patterned, feeding on leaves.
bicho: Small, nondescript creature or tiny animal often found crawling in homes or gardens.
insecto: Invertebrate with an external skeleton, three body regions, and six jointed legs.
Definition in Spanish
Pequeño animal sin patas de cuerpo blando y alargado; también usado para ciertos estados larvarios y, en sentido coloquial, como término despectivo hacia una persona.
Word origin
From an inherited Romance word from Vulgar Latin meaning 'worm', originally a basic name for such creatures and later extended figuratively.
Usage tips
- The phrase 'ser un gusano' expresses strong contempt and is commonly understood as a harsh personal insult.
Other meanings
- larvanoun
- caterpillarnoun