camello
/kah-MEH-yoh/
camel
A 'camello' is the animal known for its humps and ability to live in the desert.
📝 In Action
Los camellos pueden pasar muchos días sin beber agua.
A2Camels can go many days without drinking water.
Vimos un camello cerca de las pirámides.
A1We saw a camel near the pyramids.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender of Animals
Even though 'camello' ends in 'o', it usually refers to the species. To specify a female, you can say 'la camella'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Camel vs. Horse
Mistake: "Using 'caballo' when you mean 'camello'."
Correction: They sound similar! Remember 'camello' has the 'm' like 'mountain' (the humps).
⭐ Usage Tips
Cultural Note
In Spain, 'Los Reyes Magos' (The Three Kings) are famous for riding camels to deliver gifts.
In some contexts, 'camello' is used as slang for a small-scale drug dealer.
camello(noun)
drug dealer
?someone who sells illegal substances on a small scale
pusher
?street-level seller
📝 In Action
La policía detuvo al camello del barrio.
B2The police arrested the neighborhood drug dealer.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Caution
This is very informal and relates to illegal activity. Use it only when watching crime dramas or understanding news reports.
In certain regions, 'camello' can refer to a job or a place of employment.
📝 In Action
Estoy buscando un camello para las vacaciones.
C1I'm looking for a job for the holidays.
¡Qué camello fue subir todas esas cajas!
C2What hard work it was moving all those boxes!
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: camello
Question 1 of 2
If you are in Bogotá and someone says 'Tengo mucho camello,' what do they mean?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'camello' the same as 'dromedario'?
In everyday Spanish, many people use 'camello' for both. However, technically a 'camello' has two humps and a 'dromedario' has only one.
Is it offensive to use the word 'camello'?
When referring to the animal or 'work' (in Colombia), it's fine. However, calling a person a 'camello' in Spain usually implies they are a drug dealer, which is very offensive.