How to Say "duck" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “duck” is “pato” — use 'pato' when referring to the waterfowl, the bird that swims and quacks.
English → Spanish
pato
PAH-tohˈpa.to
nounA1general
Use 'pato' when referring to the waterfowl, the bird that swims and quacks.
Examples
El pato nadó tranquilamente en el estanque.
The duck swam calmly in the pond.
Vimos un pato con sus crías cruzando la calle.
We saw a duck with its young crossing the street.
Gender and Related Words
The word 'pato' is always masculine for the animal. The female duck is usually 'pata', and a baby duck is 'patito' or 'patita'.
agáchate
verbA2informal
Use 'agáchate' when instructing someone to lower their body quickly to avoid something, like a low-hanging object.
Examples
¡Agáchate! La rama está muy baja.
Duck! The branch is very low.
Animal vs. Action
The most common mistake is using 'pato' when you mean the verb 'to duck' (to lower yourself). Remember, 'pato' is always the bird, while 'agáchate' is the command to lower your body.
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