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huevos

WAY-vohs/ˈweβos/

“huevos” means “eggs” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

eggs

Also: ovules
NounmA1
A close-up illustration of a single perfectly cooked fried egg with a bright yellow yolk resting on a plain white plate.

📝 In Action

Para el desayuno, pedí huevos revueltos con tocino.

A1

For breakfast, I ordered scrambled eggs with bacon.

Necesitas una docena de huevos para hacer ese pastel.

A2

You need a dozen eggs to make that cake.

El chef dejó los huevos duros en agua fría para que fuera más fácil pelarlos.

B1

The chef left the hard-boiled eggs in cold water so they would be easier to peel.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • huevos revueltos – scrambled eggs
  • huevos fritos – fried eggs
  • cartón de huevos – egg carton

guts, nerve

Also: balls
NounmB2slang
SpainMexico
A very small, determined brown mouse standing bravely on the ground, looking up at a much larger but gentle-looking lion.

📝 In Action

Se necesita tener muchos huevos para saltar desde esa altura.

B2

It takes a lot of guts (or nerve) to jump from that height.

Le echó huevos al asunto y habló con su jefe.

C1

He put some effort/courage into the matter and spoke with his boss.

¡Venga, ponle huevos! ¡Ya casi llegas!

B2

Come on, give it your all (show some guts)! You're almost there!

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • cobardía (cowardice)

Idioms & Expressions

  • tener huevos – To have courage or guts.
  • echarle huevos – To put in a lot of effort; to give it your best.
  • estar hasta los huevos (de algo) – To be fed up or sick and tired (of something).

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "huevos" in Spanish:

balls→eggs→ovules→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: huevos

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'huevos' to mean 'courage'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
huevo(egg (singular)) — Noun
huevera(egg cup/egg carton) — Noun
ovíparo(oviparous (egg-laying)) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
nuevosremuevos
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word *ovum*, meaning 'egg'. Over time, the sound shifted in Spanish, and the initial 'o' changed to 'h' and then 'hu'.

First recorded: 10th century (as 'uovo', later evolving to 'huevo').

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: uovoFrench: œufPortuguese: ovos

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'huevo' (singular) used to mean 'courage' as well?

Not usually. When referring to courage or determination, the plural form 'huevos' is almost always used. The singular 'huevo' only means the food item or, very rarely and colloquially, a testicle.

Is the slang meaning of 'huevos' offensive?

Yes, for many speakers. It is derived from a vulgar anatomical term and should be avoided in professional settings, with strangers, or around children. It is reserved for very casual, informal conversation where all parties are comfortable with strong language.