Spanish Conversation · Level 3
87 words
Spanish word
pingüino
Pronunciation
IPA/piŋˈgwino/
Meaning
- masculine nounpenguin
Example
El pingüino come pescado.
The penguin eats fish.
More examples
En el zoológico vimos a un pingüino nadando.
At the zoo we saw a penguin swimming.
Core concept
Upright marine bird with dense black-and-white plumage and winged flippers for swimming.
Common phrases
ver un pingüino
see a penguin
colonia de pingüinos
penguin colony
Similar words
pájaro: Small feathered bird with wings that typically flies and perches.
ave: Feathered, beaked animal that generally flies and lays eggs.
ave marina: Coastal or ocean-going bird that forages at sea and nests on shores or cliffs.
pato: Stocky waterfowl with a broad flat bill and webbed feet that swims in ponds and rivers.
Definition in Spanish
Ave marina que no vuela, con plumaje típicamente blanco y negro y adaptaciones para nadar y capturar peces.
Word origin
From English penguin, adopted into Spanish to name the flightless marine bird after English usage that once applied to the now-extinct great auk.
Usage tips
- Stress falls on the 'güi' syllable (pingüino) despite lacking an accent, and English speakers often misspell it by leaving out the dieresis.