pata
/pa-ta/
leg
Pata can mean the leg of an animal or a piece of furniture.
pata(noun)
leg
?of an animal or piece of furniture
,paw
?of an animal
foot
?large animal foot or claw
📝 In Action
El gato estiró la pata y empezó a ronronear.
A1The cat stretched its paw and started to purr.
Necesitamos arreglar la pata rota de la mesa antes de cenar.
A2We need to fix the broken leg of the table before dinner.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Rule
Even though 'pata' refers to a limb, it always uses feminine articles (la pata, una pata).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing with 'Pierna'
Mistake: "Using 'pata' for a human leg."
Correction: Use 'pierna' for human legs. 'Pata' is only for animals and furniture.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for Furniture
It's common and natural to use 'pata' when talking about the supports of tables, chairs, or beds.
Pata is the word for a female duck.
📝 In Action
La pata guió a sus crías al agua para nadar.
B1The female duck guided her young to the water to swim.
💡 Grammar Points
Male Counterpart
The male duck is called 'pato.' This pair follows the typical Spanish pattern of using '-a' for female and '-o' for male.
Informally, pata can mean 'friend' or 'pal,' often referring to a female friend.
📝 In Action
Fui al cine con mis patas el sábado pasado. (Used in Argentina)
B2I went to the movies with my friends last Saturday.
¡Hola, pata! ¿Cómo andas?
C1Hey, pal! How are you doing?
💡 Grammar Points
Regional Slang
This meaning is primarily used in the Southern Cone (Argentina, Uruguay, Chile) and is highly informal. Avoid using it in formal settings.
⭐ Usage Tips
Gender Flexibility
While 'pata' is grammatically feminine, in some regions, the plural 'patas' can be used informally to refer to a mixed group of friends.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pata
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'pata' in its most common, literal A1 meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Por qué 'pata' significa 'amiga' en algunos países?
The reason is likely related to the phrase 'de pata,' which means 'walking' or 'on foot.' In some regions, 'andar de pata' (to be walking around with someone) evolved into 'pata' meaning 'companion' or 'friend.'
Is 'pata' always feminine?
Yes, grammatically, 'pata' is always a feminine noun (la pata). However, in slang, the plural 'patas' can sometimes refer to a group of friends of any gender.