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caracol

kah-rah-kohl/kaɾaˈkol/

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

snail

Also: seashell, spiral
NounmA1
Spain
A small garden snail with a spiral shell crawling on a green leaf.

📝 In Action

Hay un caracol pequeño en esa planta.

A1

There is a small snail on that plant.

A mis hijos les gusta buscar caracoles en la orilla del mar.

A2

My children like looking for seashells at the seashore.

Subimos a la torre por una escalera de caracol.

B1

We went up the tower via a spiral staircase.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • caracola (large conch/seashell)

Common Collocations

  • escalera de caracol – spiral staircase
  • a paso de caracol – at a snail's pace (very slowly)

Idioms & Expressions

  • ir como un caracol – To move or work very slowly

cochlea

Also: scroll
NounmC1formal
A detailed illustration of the spiral-shaped cochlea from the human inner ear.

📝 In Action

El caracol es una parte fundamental del oído interno.

C1

The cochlea is a fundamental part of the inner ear.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cóclea (cochlea)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "caracol" in Spanish:

cochlea→scroll→seashell→snail→spiral→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: caracol

Question 1 of 3

What is an 'escalera de caracol'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
caracola(large seashell/conch) — Noun
caracolear(to spiral or wind around) — Verb
caracoleo(a zig-zag or spiraling motion) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From a mixture of Latin 'coculium' and perhaps older Mediterranean words, all referring to a spiral or a shell.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: caracolFrench: caracoler (to move in a spiral)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'caracola' mean a female snail?

No. 'Caracol' is the word for the animal regardless of its gender. 'Caracola' usually refers to a large, spiral seashell or a conch.

Is 'caracol' used for the shells you find at the beach?

Yes! While 'concha' is the general word for any shell, 'caracol' is used specifically for those that have a spiral or winding shape like a snail's house.

How do you say 'snail's pace' in Spanish?

You say 'a paso de caracol'.