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rana

rra-na/ˈra.na/

“rana” means “frog” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

frog

Also: amphibian
NounfA1
Spain (informal)
A bright green frog with large eyes sitting peacefully on a large, round green lily pad floating on still water.

📝 In Action

La rana verde croó fuertemente cerca del estanque.

A1

The green frog croaked loudly near the pond.

Mi hermana tiene miedo a las ranas y los sapos.

A2

My sister is afraid of frogs and toads.

Encontré una rana diminuta saltando en el jardín.

B1

I found a tiny frog jumping in the garden.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • anfibio (amphibian)
  • sapito (little toad)

Common Collocations

  • cantar la rana – for the frog to croak
  • piel de rana – frog skin

the frog game

Also: toss game
NounfB2
Colombia, Peru, SpainChile
A traditional wooden coin-toss game apparatus, featuring a metallic frog figure with an open mouth on top, ready to catch a coin.

📝 In Action

Después del almuerzo, jugamos una partida de rana en el patio.

B1

After lunch, we played a round of the frog game in the courtyard.

Hacer un punto en la boca de la rana vale el doble.

B2

Scoring a point in the frog's mouth is worth double.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • juego de la rana (the frog game)

Common Collocations

  • tablero de la rana – the frog game board

Vocabulary Collections

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "rana" in Spanish:

amphibian→frog→toss game→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: rana

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'rana' to talk about the game, not the animal?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
ranita(little frog) — Noun
ranero(frog-catcher (or player of the game)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
mañanacanavana
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'rana' comes directly from the Latin word *rāna*, which meant 'frog.' Its meaning has stayed consistent across centuries, making it one of the oldest and most stable words for this animal in Spanish.

First recorded: Before the 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: ranaPortuguese: rãFrench: grenouille

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Frequently Asked Questions

¿Es 'rana' el mismo animal que 'sapo'?

No, aunque son parientes. Una 'rana' (frog) generalmente tiene la piel lisa y vive más cerca del agua. Un 'sapo' (toad) suele tener la piel más rugosa y vive más en tierra firme. En inglés se distinguen, y en español también.

Why is the traditional game called 'La Rana'?

The game is named 'The Frog' because the primary, highest-scoring target is a small metal figure of a frog with its mouth open. Players try to toss their coins directly into its mouth.