Inklingo

teta

te-tah/ˈteta/

teta means breast in Spanish (informal or family context, often regarding breastfeeding).

breast

Also: teat, boob
NounfA2informal
Spain
A simple storybook illustration of a mother gently holding a baby who is nursing.

📝 In Action

El bebé tiene hambre y quiere teta.

A1

The baby is hungry and wants to breastfeed.

Esa vaca tiene las tetas muy grandes.

A2

That cow has very large teats.

Mi hermana decidió darle la teta a su hijo hasta los dos años.

B1

My sister decided to breastfeed her son until he was two.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pecho (chest/breast)
  • seno (breast (more formal/medical))
  • ubre (udder (specifically for animals))

Common Collocations

  • dar la tetato breastfeed
  • niño de tetaa nursing child (or someone very immature)

Idioms & Expressions

  • estar como una tetato be very comfortable or in great condition
  • vivir de tetato live comfortably at someone else's expense

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "teta" in Spanish:

boobbreastteat

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: teta

Question 1 of 3

Which word is more appropriate to use at a formal doctor's appointment?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
tetona(busty (very informal/slang))Adjective
tetilla(nipple (specifically male) or a type of cheese)Noun
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

From the Vulgar Latin 'titta,' which is thought to be an imitation of the sound babies make or a word from very old European languages before Latin.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: teatFrench: tetteItalian: tetta

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'teta' a bad word?

Not exactly. It is informal. While it can be used in a vulgar way (like 'boobs'), it is the standard, non-vulgar word used within families for breastfeeding.

Can I use 'teta' for men?

Usually no. For men's chests, we use 'pecho'. 'Tetilla' is sometimes used for a male nipple.

Is there a difference between 'teta' and 'seno'?

Yes. 'Seno' is the most formal/medical term, 'pecho' is the everyday neutral term, and 'teta' is the informal/family term.