Spanish word

pato

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈpato/

Meaning

  • masculine nounduck

Example

En el estanque hay un pato.

There is a duck in the pond.

Illustration for pato (duck)

More examples

El niño juega con un pato de goma en la bañera.

The child plays with a rubber duck in the bathtub.

Core concept

Small waterbird with webbed feet and a broad flat bill.

Common phrases

  • un pato

    a duck

  • pato de goma

    rubber duck

Similar words

pata: A limb (leg or foot) of a nonhuman animal used for standing and moving.
patito: Tiny duckling, a baby duck commonly covered in fluffy down.
ganso: Big gregarious waterbird with a loud honk and a strong bill.

Definition in Spanish

Se usa para aves acuáticas de cuerpo compacto y pico ancho; se usa tanto para el animal vivo como para sus crías (patito) y para objetos con su forma.

Word origin

The word appears in medieval Spanish and Portuguese (pato), and linguists consider its deeper origin uncertain.

Usage tips

  • The diminutive patito commonly means a duckling or a toy duck, so English speakers often hear patito for baby ducks or rubber ducks.

Related words

  • patitoducklingnoun

Word lists with this word