rabo
“rabo” means “tail” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
tail
Also: oxtail, buttocks
📝 In Action
El perro movía el rabo con mucha alegría.
A1The dog was wagging its tail with great joy.
Hoy vamos a cocinar rabo de toro estofado.
B1Today we are going to cook stewed oxtail.
El cerdo tiene un rabo pequeño y rizado.
A2The pig has a small, curly tail.
stem
Also: corner
📝 In Action
No te comas el rabo de la manzana.
B1Don't eat the apple stem.
Le quité el rabo a las cerezas antes de lavarlas.
B2I took the stems off the cherries before washing them.
Lo miró por el rabo del ojo para que no se diera cuenta.
C1She looked at him out of the corner of her eye so he wouldn't notice.
Vocabulary Collections
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: rabo
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is a famous Spanish dish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from the Latin word 'rapum', which actually meant 'turnip' or 'root'. Over time, it came to describe anything with a similar elongated root-like shape, eventually becoming the standard word for certain types of tails.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'rabo' a bad word?
In Spain, it's generally neutral for animals and food. However, in some Latin American countries, it's a common slang term for the buttocks or even used vulgarly for male anatomy. Use 'cola' if you want to be extra polite.
Can I use 'rabo' for a bird's tail?
Usually, no. For birds, 'cola' is the correct term because bird tails are made of feathers.
What does 'con el rabo entre las piernas' mean?
Just like the English 'with his tail between his legs,' it means someone is leaving a situation feeling defeated, ashamed, or scared.