Inklingo
← Dictionary

pollos

/POY-yohs/

chickens

A group of fluffy yellow chicks and brown chickens standing in a green field.

Pollos can refer to the living animals, such as these chickens in a field.

pollos(noun)

mA1

chickens

?

referring to the animals

Also:

chicks

?

young birds

📝 In Action

Los pollos están corriendo por toda la granja.

A1

The chickens are running all over the farm.

Mi abuela tiene diez pollos en su patio.

A1

My grandmother has ten chickens in her backyard.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • polluelos (chicks)
  • aves (birds)

Common Collocations

  • cría de pollos – chicken farming/breeding
  • corral de pollos – chicken coop

Idioms & Expressions

💡 Grammar Points

Making it Plural

This is the plural form of 'pollo.' To talk about more than one, we simply add an 's' to the end.

Gender

This word is masculine. Even if you are talking about a group of mixed male and female young birds, you use 'los pollos'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Pollos vs. Gallinas

Mistake: "Using 'pollos' for adult egg-laying hens."

Correction: Use 'pollos' for young birds or birds used for meat, and 'gallinas' for adult hens that lay eggs.

⭐ Usage Tips

Pronouncing 'LL'

In most Spanish-speaking places, the 'll' sounds like the English 'y' in 'yes.' So, say it like 'POY-yohs'.

A roasted whole chicken served on a large white platter.

Pollos is also used to describe chickens prepared as food units.

pollos(noun)

mA1

chickens

?

as food units

Also:

chicken dishes

?

referring to various types of chicken meals

📝 In Action

Compramos dos pollos asados para la fiesta.

A1

We bought two roasted chickens for the party.

En este restaurante sirven los mejores pollos de la ciudad.

A2

In this restaurant, they serve the best chickens in town.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • carne de ave (poultry meat)

Common Collocations

  • pollos asados – roasted chickens
  • pollos fritos – fried chickens

💡 Grammar Points

Countable Food

Use 'pollos' when you are counting whole birds (like at a rotisserie shop). If you are talking about chicken meat in general as an ingredient, you often use the singular 'pollo'.

⭐ Usage Tips

At the Market

If you want to buy multiple whole chickens, ask for 'dos pollos' or 'tres pollos'.

A green puddle of liquid on a grey sidewalk.

In some contexts, pollos is a slang term for thick phlegm or spit.

pollos(noun)

mC1

loogies

?

thick phlegm or spit

Also:

phlegm

?

mucus coughed up

📝 In Action

¡Qué asco! No escupas pollos en la calle.

B2

That's gross! Don't spit loogies in the street.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • flemas (phlegm)
  • esputos (spit/sputum)

Common Collocations

  • escupir pollos – to hawk a loogie / to spit phlegm

❌ Common Pitfalls

Know your audience

Mistake: "Using this meaning in a restaurant."

Correction: This is very informal and can be considered gross. Use 'flemas' if you are at the doctor.

⭐ Usage Tips

Regional Use

This specific slang is very common in Spain but might not be understood as 'spit' in every Latin American country.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: pollos

Question 1 of 2

If you are at a farm and see many small birds, you are looking at:

📚 More Resources

Word Family

pollo(chicken) - noun
pollería(chicken shop) - noun
pollito(little chick) - noun
repollar(to form a head (like cabbage)) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'pollos' and 'gallinas'?

'Pollos' usually refers to young birds or birds raised for meat. 'Gallinas' refers specifically to adult female chickens (hens), especially those used for laying eggs.

Is 'pollos' used for both males and females?

Yes, 'pollos' is a masculine word, but it is used to describe a group of young chickens regardless of whether they are male or female.