Spanish Conversation · Level 53
75 words
Spanish word
hormiguero
Pronunciation
IPA/oɾmiˈɣeɾo/
Meaning
- masculine nounanthill
Example
En el jardín, junto al árbol, hay un hormiguero.
In the garden, next to the tree, there is an anthill.
More examples
Por la mañana el mercado es un hormiguero de gente.
In the morning the market is a hive of people.
Core concept
Mound of soil housing a cooperative ant colony.
Common phrases
un hormiguero de gente
a hive of people
Similar words
nido: Nest built to shelter and protect eggs or young offspring.
colonia: Group of animals of the same species living together in a shared community.
colmena: Hive constructed by honeybees for living, rearing brood, and storing honey.
montículo: Small mound of earth rising slightly above the surrounding ground.
Definition in Spanish
Estructura natural donde las hormigas crían, almacenan comida y viven en comunidad.
Word origin
From Spanish hormiga 'ant' plus the locative suffix -ero 'place of', with hormiga ultimately from Latin formica.
Usage tips
- Used literally for an anthill or figuratively for a bustling, highly organized place, so hormiguero emphasizes coordinated roles and activity rather than mere crowding.
Opposites
- tranquilidadtranquilitynoun
Related words
- hormiguearswarmverb
- hormigueoswarmingnoun