ave

ah-veh

nounfA1

bird?flying creature

Also:fowl?collective term for birds, especially game birds

📝 In Action

Vimos un ave exótica en el parque.

We saw an exotic bird in the park.

Las aves migratorias viajan miles de kilómetros.

Migratory birds travel thousands of kilometers.

Word Connections

Synonyms

pájaro (small bird)
volátil (flying creature (formal))

Common Collocations

ave rapaz – bird of prey
ave nocturna – night bird (owl, etc.)

Idioms & Expressions

Pájaro que vuela, a la cazuela. – Seize the opportunity (literally: A bird that flies, into the pot).

💡 Grammar Points

The 'El Ave' Rule

Even though 'ave' is a feminine noun (meaning it uses 'la' in the plural: 'las aves'), we use the masculine article 'el' right before it in the singular ('el ave'). This is only done to make the pronunciation sound smoother because the word starts with a stressed 'a' sound.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'La' in Singular

Mistake: "La ave es grande."

Correction: El ave es grande. (Remember: use 'el' for singular feminine nouns that start with a stressed 'a' sound.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Ave vs. Pájaro

'Ave' is the general, scientific term for 'bird.' 'Pájaro' is used more often in casual conversation for small, common birds, like those you see in your garden.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: ave

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the word 'ave' (bird)?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

aviar(to equip/to provision (related to old meaning of preparation)) - verb

aviación(aviation) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

If 'ave' is feminine, why do I see 'el ave' instead of 'la ave'?

This is a special rule for feminine nouns that start with a stressed 'a' sound (like 'agua' or 'águila'). In the singular, we temporarily switch to the masculine article 'el' to make the sentence flow better and avoid an awkward double 'a' sound. The word itself remains feminine, so we say 'el ave grande' (not 'el ave grande').