pollo
/POH-yoh (The 'll' sounds like 'y' in most of Latin America and Spain)/
chicken
Pollo (meat/food): A cooked chicken ready to eat.
📝 In Action
Vamos a comprar un pollo entero para la cena.
A1We are going to buy a whole chicken for dinner.
¿Prefieres el pollo frito o al horno?
A1Do you prefer fried or baked chicken?
El menú del día incluye pollo con patatas.
A2The daily menu includes chicken with potatoes.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Tip
Since 'pollo' ends in -o, it is masculine, meaning you use 'el pollo' or 'un pollo'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Chicken vs. Hen/Rooster
When referring to the meat, 'pollo' is used regardless of the bird's sex. To refer to a live hen, use 'gallina'; for a rooster, use 'gallo'.
Pollo (baby chicken): A small, newborn chick.
📝 In Action
El pollo salió del huevo ayer por la mañana.
A2The chick came out of the egg yesterday morning.
La gallina está cuidando a sus pollos en el corral.
B1The hen is looking after her chicks in the coop.
Pollo (Spain, informal): A casual term for a young man or guy.
pollo(noun)
guy
?young man (Spain, informal)
,young man
?youth
boyfriend
?romantic partner (less common than 'novio' but used in Spain)
📝 In Action
Mira qué pollo más guapo está esperando el autobús.
B1Look what a handsome guy is waiting for the bus. (Spain)
Mi hermana me presentó a su nuevo pollo el fin de semana.
B2My sister introduced me to her new boyfriend/guy friend over the weekend. (Spain)
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using Slang Regionally
Mistake: "Using 'pollo' to mean 'guy' outside of Spain."
Correction: While understood, this usage is strongly associated with Spain. In Latin America, use 'chico' or 'chavo' instead, depending on the country.
⭐ Usage Tips
Informal Usage
Only use this meaning when speaking with friends, peers, or in very casual settings. It is inappropriate for formal situations.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pollo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'pollo' in its slang meaning, common in Spain?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Es 'pollo' siempre masculino?
Sí, 'pollo' es siempre masculino ('el pollo'). If you are talking about a female chicken, you use 'la gallina' (the hen).
¿Puedo usar 'pollo' para referirme a una chica?
No. When referring to a person, 'pollo' is only used for a young man or guy. The female equivalent is 'polla,' but beware: 'polla' is very vulgar slang in many parts of the Spanish-speaking world.