elefante
“elefante” means “elephant” in Spanish (The large animal).
elephant
Also: something huge or clumsy
📝 In Action
El elefante es el animal terrestre más grande del mundo.
A1The elephant is the largest land animal in the world.
Mi hijo quiere un juguete de un elefante gris.
A1My son wants a gray elephant toy.
Se movía con la gracia de un elefante en una tienda de porcelana.
B2He moved with the grace of a bull in a china shop (literally: an elephant in a china shop).
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: elefante
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses the gender of 'elefante'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
This word comes from the Latin word *elephantus*, which itself was borrowed from the ancient Greek word *elephas*. It has been used in Spanish since the Middle Ages and has always referred to the massive, tusked animal.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
If I see a female elephant, should I call it 'elefante' or 'elefanta'?
You can use 'elefante' to refer to the species in general, but if you want to specify the female animal, the correct and common word is 'elefanta'.