Inklingo

oveja

oh-BEH-hah/oˈβexa/

oveja means sheep in Spanish (the woolly farm animal).

sheep

Also: ewe
NounfA1
A fluffy white sheep standing in a green grassy field.

📝 In Action

Hay una oveja blanca en el campo.

A1

There is a white sheep in the field.

La oveja nos da lana para hacer suéteres.

A1

The sheep gives us wool to make sweaters.

El pastor cuida a su rebaño de ovejas.

A2

The shepherd takes care of his flock of sheep.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • rebaño de ovejasflock of sheep
  • lana de ovejasheep's wool
  • leche de ovejasheep's milk

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser la oveja negrato be the person who is different or seen as the failure in a family or group
  • cada oveja con su parejaeveryone should find a partner similar to themselves (like 'birds of a feather flock together')

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "oveja" in Spanish:

ewesheep

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: oveja

Question 1 of 1

If you are the member of the family who is very different or doesn't fit in, you are the...

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
ovejero(shepherd or sheepdog)Noun
ovino(relating to sheep (livestock term))Adjective
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

From the Latin word 'ovicula', which was a small or dear sheep (a 'diminutive' form of 'ovis').

First recorded: 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: ovelhaFrench: ouaille (archaic)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What do you call a male sheep in Spanish?

While 'oveja' is the general word for the animal, a male sheep (a ram) is specifically called a 'carnero'.

Is 'oveja' used for 'lamb'?

No, for a baby sheep or lamb, Spanish speakers use the word 'cordero'.