Inklingo
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rata

rat?rodent animal
Also:rodent?general term

RAH-tah

/ˈra.ta/
NounfA1
neutral
A small gray rat with large ears and a long tail, standing upright on its hind legs.

The most common meaning of rata is the animal, the rat.

rata(Noun)

fA1

rat

?

rodent animal

Also:

rodent

?

general term

📝 In Action

Hay una rata en el sótano que come nuestro queso.

A1

There is a rat in the basement eating our cheese.

Las ratas pueden ser portadoras de enfermedades.

A2

Rats can be carriers of diseases.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • trampa para ratas – rat trap
  • veneno para ratas – rat poison

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Note

Even though 'rata' refers to a female rat, it is the standard word for rats of either gender, just like 'mouse' in English.

A cartoon illustration of a person with a worried expression, tightly clutching a small, worn leather coin pouch to their chest with both hands.

Figuratively, rata can be an insult meaning 'cheapskate' or 'stingy person.'

rata(Noun)

fB2

cheapskate

?

stingy person

,

crook

?

dishonest person

Also:

scoundrel

?

bad person

📝 In Action

No seas rata y paga la mitad de la cuenta.

B2

Don't be a cheapskate and pay half the bill.

Ese político es una rata; solo piensa en robar.

C1

That politician is a crook; he only thinks about stealing.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tacaño (stingy)
  • ladrón (thief)

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser una rata – to be extremely mean or cheap

💡 Grammar Points

Referring to People

When used to describe a person, 'rata' is grammatically feminine (it takes 'la' or 'una'), but it can refer to a man or a woman.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Masculine Form

Mistake: “Using *rato* instead of *rata* when insulting someone.”

Correction: The insult is always *rata*. *Rato* means 'a while' or 'a moment' and has a totally different meaning.

⭐ Usage Tips

Tone Warning

This term is highly offensive and should only be used in very informal settings, usually when you are joking with friends or expressing strong disapproval.

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: rata

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'rata' as an insult for a person?

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🗣️ Practice in a Tongue Twister

Practice the pronunciation of this word with these Spanish tongue twisters.

📚 More Resources

Word Family

ratón(mouse) - Noun
ratear(to steal petty things; to be stingy) - Verb
roedor(rodent) - Noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'rata' the same as 'ratón'?

No. 'Rata' is specifically a large rat. 'Ratón' is a mouse, which is smaller. This distinction is the same as in English.

If I call a man 'rata', do I use 'el' or 'la'?

You must use the feminine article 'la' or 'una' because 'rata' is a feminine noun, even if the person you are insulting is male. Example: 'Él es una rata'.