Spanish word

oveja

Pronunciation

IPA/oˈβexa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounsheep

Example

La oveja come hierba.

The sheep eats grass.

Illustration for oveja (sheep)

More examples

Compré queso hecho con leche de oveja en el mercado.

I bought cheese made with sheep's milk at the market.

Core concept

Woolly adult female sheep.

Common phrases

  • lana de oveja

    sheep's wool

  • leche de oveja

    sheep's milk

Similar words

cordero: Very young, newly born sheep with soft wool and a delicate body.
rebaño: Flock or herd made up of animals of the same kind gathered together.

Definition in Spanish

Mamífero doméstico cubierto de lana, criado principalmente por su lana y por su carne; la hembra adulta de la especie ovina.

Word origin

Derives from Latin ovis 'sheep' via the diminutive ovella and medieval oella, with regular sound changes producing modern oveja.

Usage tips

  • The noun is feminine (la oveja), and the phrase oveja negra is a common idiom meaning 'black sheep' of a group.

Related words

  • ovejitalambnoun
  • ovejeroshepherdnoun

Word lists with this word