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escarabajo

es-kah-rah-bah-hoh/eskaɾaˈβaxo/

“escarabajo” means “beetle” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

beetle

Also: scarab
NounmA2
A shiny, iridescent green beetle crawling on a bright green leaf.

📝 In Action

El escarabajo es un insecto con un caparazón duro.

A1

The beetle is an insect with a hard shell.

Hay un escarabajo pelotero en el jardín moviendo una bola.

A2

There is a dung beetle in the garden moving a ball.

Los antiguos egipcios consideraban al escarabajo un símbolo de buena suerte.

B1

Ancient Egyptians considered the beetle a symbol of good luck.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • coleóptero (coleopteran (scientific name))

Common Collocations

  • escarabajo pelotero – dung beetle
  • escarabajo rinoceronte – rhinoceros beetle

Idioms & Expressions

  • escribir como un escarabajo – To have very messy or illegible handwriting

VW Beetle, Bug

NounmB1informal
Mexico
A classic rounded vintage car painted bright red.

📝 In Action

Mi tío restauró un viejo escarabajo de 1970.

B1

My uncle restored an old 1970 Beetle.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • vocho (bug (Mexico))

Common Collocations

  • un escarabajo clásico – a classic Beetle

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "escarabajo" in Spanish:

beetle→bug→scarab→vw beetle→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: escarabajo

Question 1 of 3

What is the correct gender for 'escarabajo'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
escarabajear(to scribble or scrawl) — Verb
escarabajuelo(a tiny beetle) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from the Latin word 'scarabaeus', which refers to the insect. It eventually evolved in Spanish to 'escarabajo' to describe the crawling movement and hard shell of the bug.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: scarabFrench: scarabéeItalian: scarabeo

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'escarabajo' only mean a specific type of beetle?

No, it is the general term for all beetles. There are thousands of species of beetles, and they are all called 'escarabajos' in Spanish.

How do I pronounce the 'j' in 'escarabajo'?

It's like a forceful English 'h'. Think of the 'h' in 'hat', but push a little more air from the back of your throat.

Is a ladybug called an 'escarabajo'?

Technically, a ladybug is a type of beetle, but in everyday Spanish, people call them 'mariquitas' instead of 'escarabajos'.