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How to Say "cockroach" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cucaracha

koo-kah-RAH-chahkukaˈɾatʃa

nounA1general
Use 'cucaracha' as the standard, everyday word for the common insect, suitable for nearly all situations.
A detailed brown cockroach with long antennae on a clean surface.

Examples

Hay una cucaracha corriendo por el suelo de la cocina.

There is a cockroach running across the kitchen floor.

Las cucarachas pueden sobrevivir en condiciones muy difíciles.

Cockroaches can survive in very difficult conditions.

Mi hermano les tiene fobia a las cucarachas voladoras.

My brother has a phobia of flying cockroaches.

Always Feminine

This word is always feminine ('la cucaracha'). Even if the insect is male, you don't change the word to 'cucaracho'.

Adding 'Male' or 'Female'

To specify the sex of the bug, you just add the words for male or female: 'la cucaracha macho' or 'la cucaracha hembra'.

Don't use 'el'

Mistake: “El cucaracha es grande.”

Correction: La cucaracha es grande. Even though it's just a bug, the word itself is strictly feminine.

barata

bah-RAH-tahbaˈɾata

nounB2general
Use 'barata' when referring to a cockroach, especially if you are in a region where this term is common, or in a context where it's understood as an insect.
A single brown cockroach with prominent antennae crawling across a clean, light-colored floor.

Examples

Cuidado, hay una barata en la cocina.

Watch out, there is a cockroach in the kitchen.

Regional Homonym

This meaning is entirely separate from the concept of price. If you are in the Caribbean, this is the word you will hear for the insect.

Choosing Between Cucaracha and Barata

Learners often wonder if 'barata' is a different type of insect or if it's a regionalism. While 'barata' can be used for cockroach, 'cucaracha' is universally understood and the safer choice for general communication.

Related Translations

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