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How to Say "bug" in Spanish

English → Spanish

bicho

bee-choˈbitʃo

nounA2informal
Use 'bicho' for a general, small creature or insect, especially if it's unpleasant, or informally for an illness.
A vibrant red ladybug with black spots resting on a large green leaf.

Examples

Hay un bicho enorme en mi ensalada. ¡Qué asco!

There is a huge bug in my salad. How gross!

Los niños estaban buscando bichos debajo de las piedras.

The children were looking for critters under the rocks.

Creo que agarré un bicho en el avión y ahora tengo fiebre.

I think I caught a bug/virus on the plane and now I have a fever.

Tienen que limpiar bien para matar todos los bichos.

They have to clean well to kill all the germs.

Always Masculine

Even if the creature is female, 'bicho' is always used with masculine articles (el bicho, un bicho).

Catching a Sickness

When referring to catching an illness, Spanish often uses 'agarrar un bicho' (to grab a bug) or 'coger un bicho' (to catch a bug).

Confusing Gender

Mistake: “La bicha (unless referring to a regional slang for a female person)”

Correction: Use 'el bicho' for insects/animals; the feminine form 'bicha' is rarely used in this context.

insecto

een-SEK-tohinˈsekto

nounA1informal
Use 'insecto' as a more formal or general term for any insect.
A colorful cartoon beetle with six legs and a segmented body on a green leaf.

Examples

La abeja es un insecto muy trabajador.

The bee is a very hardworking insect.

Hay muchos insectos en el jardín durante el verano.

There are many bugs in the garden during the summer.

¡Quita ese insecto de mi mesa!

Get that bug off my table!

Masculine Noun

This word is masculine, so you should always use 'el' or 'un' with it (el insecto, un insecto), even if you are talking about a female bug!

Insects vs. Spiders

Mistake: “Calling a spider 'un insecto' in a biology exam.”

Correction: While people often call any small crawly thing an 'insecto' or 'bicho', technically spiders are arachnids. Use 'insecto' strictly for six-legged creatures if you want to be precise.

virus

BEE-roosˈbiɾus

nounB1informal
Use 'virus' for a computer problem or a biological illness, especially when referring to a specific pathogen.
A small, menacing, green cartoon creature with sharp teeth aggressively biting a generic, gray computer screen icon, illustrating malicious software.

Examples

Necesito instalar un antivirus porque mi laptop tiene un virus.

I need to install antivirus software because my laptop has a virus.

Ese rumor fue como un virus que dañó la reputación de la empresa.

That rumor was like a virus that damaged the company's reputation.

Figurative Use

You can use 'virus' metaphorically to describe anything that spreads and causes harm, like bad ideas, corruption, or rumors.

escarabajo

es-kah-rah-bah-hoheskaɾaˈβaxo

nounB1informal
Use 'escarabajo' specifically when referring to the car model known as the 'Beetle'.
A classic rounded vintage car painted bright red.

Examples

Mi tío restauró un viejo escarabajo de 1970.

My uncle restored an old 1970 Beetle.

parásito

nounB1informal
Use 'parásito' in a medical context for a parasitic organism, not a general illness or insect.

Examples

El médico dijo que el niño tiene un parásito intestinal.

The doctor said the child has an intestinal parasite.

Bicho vs. Insecto for Creatures

Learners often confuse 'bicho' and 'insecto'. While both can mean insect, 'bicho' is more general, often informal, and can refer to any small, sometimes unpleasant creature. 'Insecto' is the more precise and formal term for an insect.

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