Spanish Conversation · Level 109
60 words
Spanish word
oruga
Pronunciation
IPA/oˈɾuɣa/
Meaning
- feminine nouncaterpillar
Example
La oruga come la hoja.
The caterpillar eats the leaf.
More examples
La oruga cambió de piel durante la noche.
The caterpillar shed its skin during the night.
Core concept
Hairy larva that feeds on plant leaves and can damage crops and gardens.
Common phrases
la oruga
the caterpillar
oruga peluda
hairy caterpillar
oruga del jardín
garden caterpillar
Similar words
gusano: Elongated, soft-bodied invertebrate that moves along soil or plant surfaces.
larva: Immature insect in the larval stage that feeds and grows before pupating into an adult.
Definition in Spanish
Larva, a menudo cubierta de pelos, que se alimenta de plantas y en ocasiones causa daños en cultivos o jardines.
Word origin
The Spanish word oruga comes from medieval Spanish and ultimately from Latin eruca, a term that referred to caterpillars.
Usage tips
- Oruga refers specifically to insect caterpillars (especially butterfly and moth larvae), while gusano is a broader term for worms and other soft-bodied creatures.
Opposites
- mariposabutterflynoun
Related words
- oruguitalittle caterpillarnoun