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animal

a-ni-'mal/a.niˈmal/

“animal” means “animal” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

animal

Also: beast, creature
NounmA1
A simple illustration of a friendly brown dog standing on green grass.

📝 In Action

El perro es un animal doméstico muy leal.

A1

The dog is a very loyal domestic animal.

Estudiamos la vida de los animales en el bosque.

A2

We studied the life of the animals in the forest.

Según la biología, todos somos animales.

B1

According to biology, we are all animals.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • criatura (creature)
  • ser vivo (living being)

Common Collocations

  • animal salvaje – wild animal
  • animal doméstico – pet / domestic animal
  • animal de granja – farm animal

clumsy, stupid

Also: brutish, reckless
Adjectivem/fB2informal
A simple illustration of a person stumbling and dropping several boxes, showing clumsiness.

📝 In Action

¡Qué animal! Rompió el jarrón por no mirar.

B2

How clumsy (or 'what an idiot')! He broke the vase because he wasn't looking.

Este conductor es muy animal, va a 140 km/h en la ciudad.

C1

This driver is very reckless, he’s going 140 km/h in the city.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ser un animal – to be a brute/idiot
  • actuar como un animal – to act like an idiot

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: animal

Question 1 of 1

¿Cuál de estas oraciones usa 'animal' en su sentido informal y crítico?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
animalada(foolish act / senseless action) — Noun
animalito(little animal (diminutive)) — Noun
animar(to cheer up / to encourage) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the Latin term *animāle*, which literally meant 'a living, breathing being.' This Latin word is linked to *anima*, meaning 'breath,' 'spirit,' or 'life force.' This connection shows that the core meaning of *animal* has always been about something that is alive.

First recorded: 13th century (in Spanish)

Cognates (Related words)

English: animalFrench: animalItalian: animale

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Frequently Asked Questions

¿El género de 'animal' cambia si hablo de un animal hembra?

No. La palabra 'animal' siempre es masculina, usando 'el' o 'un'. Por ejemplo: 'La ballena (que es hembra) es un animal muy grande'.

¿Cómo puedo evitar ofender a alguien si uso 'animal' como insulto?

Es mejor evitar usarlo como insulto con personas que no conoces bien. Es una palabra informal y, aunque es común, puede sonar muy brusca. Úsala solo con amigos cercanos para expresar sorpresa o frustración por algo torpe que hicieron.