huevo
“huevo” means “egg” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
egg
Also: ovum
📝 In Action
Quiero un huevo frito con tostadas para el desayuno.
A1I want a fried egg with toast for breakfast.
La gallina puso un huevo esta mañana.
A2The hen laid an egg this morning.
courage, effort
Also: guts, nerve
📝 In Action
Tienes que echarle más huevos a este proyecto si quieres terminarlo a tiempo.
B2You have to put more effort/guts into this project if you want to finish it on time.
Se necesita mucho huevo para decirle la verdad a tu jefe.
C1It takes a lot of guts to tell your boss the truth.
testicle
Also: ball
📝 In Action
Me caí y me di un golpe en los huevos, ¡qué dolor!
C1I fell and hit myself in the balls, what pain!
No me toques los huevos, estoy de mal humor.
C2Don't bother me (literally: don't touch my balls), I'm in a bad mood.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: huevo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'huevo' in its most common, neutral meaning?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin word *ovum*, which means 'egg.' The initial 'o' sound transformed over time into the 'hue' sound in Spanish, following a common pattern for words starting with 'o' in Latin.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'huevo' masculine if it’s a biological item often associated with reproduction?
Spanish nouns are assigned grammatical gender regardless of the object's biological function. Since 'huevo' comes from the Latin neuter noun *ovum* (which often became masculine in Spanish), and it ends in -o, it is consistently treated as a masculine noun: 'el huevo.'
How can I tell if 'huevo' means 'egg' or 'courage' in a sentence?
Context is key! If it's used with verbs like 'comer' (to eat) or 'cocinar' (to cook), it means egg. If it's used with verbs like 'tener' (to have) or 'echarle' (to put into) in an informal context, it likely refers to courage, guts, or effort.