mamífero
“mamífero” means “mammal” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
mammal
📝 In Action
El perro es un mamífero muy leal.
A1The dog is a very loyal mammal.
Las ballenas son mamíferos, no peces.
A2Whales are mammals, not fish.
Existen miles de especies de mamíferos en todo el mundo.
B1There are thousands of species of mammals all over the world.
mammalian
Also: mammal
📝 In Action
Esa es una especie mamífera muy antigua.
B2That is a very ancient mammalian species.
Tienen características mamíferas muy claras.
C1They have very clear mammalian characteristics.
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Quick Quiz: mamífero
Question 1 of 3
¿Cuál de estos animales es un mamífero?
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👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'mammifer', which combines 'mamma' (breast/teat) and the root '-fer' (to carry or produce). It literally means 'the one that carries breasts'.
First recorded: 18th century (Modern scientific classification era)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is a human a 'mamífero'?
Yes! In Spanish, 'seres humanos' (human beings) are classified as 'mamíferos'.
Can I say 'mamífera' for a female dog?
Not usually as a noun. You would say 'El perro es un mamífero' or 'La perra es un mamífero'. You only use 'mamífera' as an adjective, like in 'especie mamífera'.
How do I remember the meaning?
Think of the word 'mamma' (like 'mammogram' or 'mom'). A 'mamífero' is an animal that has 'mammary' glands to feed its babies.