pata
“pata” means “leg” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
leg, paw
Also: foot
📝 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.
duck
Also: she-duck
📝 In Action
La pata guió a sus crías al agua para nadar.
B1The female duck guided her young to the water to swim.
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?
Vocabulary Collections
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pata
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'pata' in its most common, literal A1 meaning?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Vulgar Latin word *patta*, which described the broad foot of an animal. It is thought to be an onomatopoeia, imitating the sound of an animal's flat foot hitting the ground.
First recorded: Medieval Latin period
Cognates (Related words)
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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.