Inklingo

How to Say "breed" in Spanish

English → Spanish

raza

RAH-sahˈraθa

nounA2general
Use 'raza' when referring to the general type or kind of an animal, especially in everyday conversation.
A simple storybook illustration showing two very different types of dogs, a small brown chihuahua and a large fluffy white poodle, standing near each other.

Examples

Mi perro es de raza pequeña.

My dog is a small breed.

¿Qué raza de caballo prefieres para montar?

What breed of horse do you prefer for riding?

Pura Raza

To describe an animal as a purebred, use the phrase 'de pura raza' or just 'pura raza' as an adjective, which always stays feminine to match 'raza'.

casta

kahs-tahˈkasta

nounB2specific
Use 'casta' when referring to the specific lineage or pedigree of an animal, often implying quality or a particular bloodline, especially for animals like horses or dogs valued for their ancestry.
A large, sturdy oak tree with deep, visible roots and many branches spread out against a soft blue sky.

Examples

Ese caballo es de buena casta.

That horse is of a good breed.

Le viene de casta ser tan valiente; su abuelo era igual.

Being so brave runs in his blood; his grandfather was the same.

El equipo perdió, pero demostró tener mucha casta.

The team lost, but they showed a lot of spirit and grit.

Always Feminine

Even when you are talking about a male animal or a man's lineage, 'casta' remains a feminine noun. You would say 'el perro es de buena casta,' not 'casto.'

Using it for 'Cast'

Mistake: “El casta de la película es famoso.”

Correction: El reparto de la película es famoso.

Raza vs. Casta

Learners often overuse 'raza' when 'casta' would be more appropriate for emphasizing an animal's distinguished lineage. While 'raza' is perfectly fine for general animal types, reserve 'casta' for when you want to highlight a specific, often high-quality, bloodline.

Related Translations

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