castor
“castor” means “beaver” in Spanish (the semi-aquatic rodent).
beaver
Also: beaver fur
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El castor construye una presa en el río.
A2The beaver is building a dam in the river.
Los castores tienen dientes muy fuertes para cortar madera.
B1Beavers have very strong teeth to cut wood.
Antiguamente, los sombreros de castor eran muy populares.
B2In the past, beaver hats were very popular.
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Quick Quiz: castor
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'female beaver' in Spanish?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'castor', which was borrowed from the Ancient Greek 'kástōr'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a word 'castora'?
While you might hear it in very informal or children's contexts, it is not a standard word in the Spanish dictionary. 'El castor hembra' is the correct way to refer to a female beaver.
Does 'castor' mean anything else?
In some technical contexts, it can refer to the fur/fabric, but it is almost exclusively used for the animal.
Why is castor oil called 'aceite de ricino' if the plant isn't a beaver?
In English, the name 'castor oil' replaced the word 'castoreum' (a substance from beavers) because the plant oil was used for similar purposes, even though they aren't related. Spanish kept the plant's original name, 'ricino'.