langosta

lahn-GOHS-tah

nounfA2

lobster?the sea creature often served as food

Also:spiny lobster?specifically the type without large claws common in warmer waters

📝 In Action

Pedimos una langosta para compartir en el restaurante.

We ordered a lobster to share at the restaurant.

La langosta vive en el fondo del océano.

The lobster lives on the ocean floor.

Word Connections

Synonyms

bogavante (European lobster (the one with big claws))

Common Collocations

cola de langosta – lobster tail
langosta a la parrilla – grilled lobster

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

Even if the lobster is male, the word is always 'la langosta.' To specify, you would say 'la langosta macho' or 'la langosta hembra.'

❌ Common Pitfalls

Lobster vs. Shrimp

Mistake: "Using 'langosta' for small shrimp."

Correction: Use 'camarón' or 'gamba' for small shrimp; 'langosta' is the large sea creature.

⭐ Usage Tips

The 'Claw' Confusion

In many Spanish-speaking areas, 'langosta' refers to the spiny lobster which doesn't have the big pincers/claws you might see in Maine lobsters.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: langosta

Question 1 of 2

If a farmer is worried about a 'plaga de langostas,' what is he afraid of?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

langostino(king prawn / jumbo shrimp) - noun

langostero(lobster fisherman or lobster boat) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'langosta' have claws like a Maine lobster?

Usually, in Spanish-speaking countries, 'langosta' refers to the spiny lobster (langosta espinosa), which has long antennae but no large claws. The lobster with big claws is often called a 'bogavante.'

How do I say 'locust' specifically if I don't want people to think of seafood?

You can use the phrase 'plaga de langostas' or use the more general word 'saltamontes' (grasshopper) if the distinction isn't vital.