Inklingo
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A fluffy white sheep standing in a green grassy field.

oveja

oh-BEH-hah

nounfA1
sheep?the woolly farm animal
Also:ewe?specifically the female sheep

📝 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 ovejas – flock of sheep
  • lana de oveja – sheep's wool
  • leche de oveja – sheep's milk

Idioms & Expressions

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

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

In Spanish, the word 'oveja' is always feminine. Even if you are talking about a male sheep, you still use 'la oveja' unless you use the specific word for a ram, which is 'carnero'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender confusion

Mistake: "el oveja"

Correction: la oveja (always use the feminine 'la' because the word ends in 'a').

⭐ Usage Tips

Counting for sleep

Just like in English, if you can't fall asleep, you can 'contar ovejas' (count sheep) in Spanish!

✏️ 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

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'.