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How to Say "fowl" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “fowl” is “ave” — use 'ave' when referring to birds in a more general or collective sense, especially when discussing them as a category or species, or specifically for game birds..

English → Spanish

ave

/ah-veh//ˈaβe/

nounA1general
Use 'ave' when referring to birds in a more general or collective sense, especially when discussing them as a category or species, or specifically for game birds.
A simplified illustration of a small blue songbird perched on a thin brown branch.

Examples

El corral estaba lleno de aves de corral.

The coop was full of poultry.

Vimos un ave exótica en el parque.

We saw an exotic bird in the park.

Las aves migratorias viajan miles de kilómetros.

Migratory birds travel thousands of kilometers.

The 'El Ave' Rule

Even though 'ave' is a feminine noun (meaning it uses 'la' in the plural: 'las aves'), we use the masculine article 'el' right before it in the singular ('el ave'). This is only done to make the pronunciation sound smoother because the word starts with a stressed 'a' sound.

Using 'La' in Singular

Mistake: “La ave es grande.”

Correction: El ave es grande. (Remember: use 'el' for singular feminine nouns that start with a stressed 'a' sound.)

pájaro

nounA1general
Use 'pájaro' for a single, typically smaller bird, often seen in everyday environments like gardens or parks.

Examples

Un pájaro carpintero picoteaba el árbol.

A woodpecker was pecking the tree.

General vs. Specific Bird Terms

Learners often confuse 'ave' and 'pájaro' because both mean 'bird.' Remember that 'pájaro' is typically for smaller, individual birds, while 'ave' is a broader term, often used collectively or for specific types like game birds.

Related Translations

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