cabra
/kah-brah/
goat
Cabra as the animal, a goat.
📝 In Action
La cabra come hojas y ramas en la montaña.
A1The goat eats leaves and branches on the mountain.
El ganadero tiene un rebaño de veinte cabras.
A2The rancher has a herd of twenty goats.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun
Since 'cabra' is a feminine word, always use 'la' or 'una' before it, and any describing words (adjectives) must also end in '-a'.
⭐ Usage Tips
General Term
While 'cabra' specifically means 'female goat', it is commonly used in Spanish to refer to the species in general, much like 'vaca' (cow) is used.
Cabra used figuratively to describe someone eccentric or acting wildly.
cabra(noun)
crazy person
?Figurative: someone eccentric or acting wildly
nutcase
?Strongly informal/slang
📝 In Action
Mi abuela está como una cabra, siempre bailando sola en el jardín.
B2My grandma is crazy/nuts, always dancing alone in the garden.
Solo a una cabra se le ocurriría subir esa montaña sin equipo.
C1Only a crazy person (nutcase) would think of climbing that mountain without equipment.
💡 Grammar Points
Fixed Phrase
This meaning is almost always used within the fixed phrase 'estar como una cabra' (to be like a goat). The word 'cabra' stays feminine even if you are talking about a man.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'loco' instead of 'cabra'
Mistake: "Mi amigo es una cabra."
Correction: While understandable, it is much more natural to say 'Mi amigo está como una cabra' when referring to a person's behavior.
⭐ Usage Tips
Tone
Using 'cabra' this way is playful and informal, implying mild craziness or eccentricity, not usually a severe mental condition.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cabra
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'cabra' in its figurative, non-animal meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cabra' only used for female goats?
While 'cabra' technically means 'female goat,' in everyday Spanish, it is very common and acceptable to use it as the general term for the entire species, similar to how we use 'cow' for the species.
If I want to say 'male goat,' what word should I use?
The specific word for a male goat is 'macho cabrío' or simply 'cabrón.' However, be very careful with 'cabrón' as it is a strong insult in many Spanish-speaking countries, often meaning 'jerk' or worse.