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ganso

GAHN-so/ˈɡanso/

“ganso” means “goose” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

goose

Also: gander
NounmA2
A white goose with an orange beak and webbed feet standing near a small pond.

📝 In Action

Hay un ganso blanco nadando en el lago.

A1

There is a white goose swimming in the lake.

Los gansos vuelan hacia el sur en invierno.

A2

Geese fly south in the winter.

Las plumas de ganso se usan para hacer almohadas muy suaves.

B1

Goose feathers are used to make very soft pillows.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ánsar (wild goose)

Common Collocations

  • plumas de ganso – goose feathers
  • ganso doméstico – domestic goose

silly

Also: lazy, clumsy
AdjectivemB1informal
Argentina
A person wearing a bright multicolored hat with bells and large oversized shoes, juggling colorful balls.

📝 In Action

¡No seas ganso! Deja de decir tonterías.

B1

Don't be silly! Stop talking nonsense.

Ese chico es un poco ganso, siempre está haciendo bromas.

B1

That boy is a bit of a clown, he's always making jokes.

Se quedó ahí parado como un ganso sin hacer nada.

B2

He just stood there like a lazy fool doing nothing.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • un niño ganso – a silly child

Idioms & Expressions

  • hacer el ganso – To act like a fool or play the clown to make people laugh.

Vocabulary Collections

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "ganso" in Spanish:

clumsy→gander→goose→lazy→silly→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ganso

Question 1 of 3

If someone is 'haciendo el ganso' at a party, what are they doing?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
gansada(a silly action or remark) — Noun
gansería(silliness or laziness) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
mansodescansoremanso
📚 Etymology▼

From the Gothic word 'gans' (related to the German 'Gans'), which was used by Germanic tribes to name this bird.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: gooseGerman: Gans

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'ganso' an insult?

It depends on the tone! Usually, it's a playful way to call someone silly or a goofball. However, if said with an angry tone, it can mean someone is being annoying or lazy.

How do you say 'goosebumps' in Spanish?

Even though it involves a bird in English, Spanish does not use 'ganso'. We say 'piel de gallina', which literally means 'chicken skin'.

What is the difference between a 'ganso' and a 'pato'?

A 'ganso' (goose) is much larger and has a much longer neck than a 'pato' (duck).