How to Say "pig" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “pig” is “cerdo” — use 'cerdo' when referring to the animal in a general or neutral context, such as in farming or when discussing the species.
cerdo
SEHR-doh'seɾ.ðo
Examples
El granjero alimenta a los cerdos dos veces al día.
The farmer feeds the pigs twice a day.
Para la barbacoa, asaremos carne de cerdo.
For the barbecue, we will roast pork.
Gender and Meat
Even though the animal has masculine ('cerdo') and feminine ('cerda') forms, 'cerdo' is used as the general term for the species and for the meat (pork).
Confusing Pig Types
Mistake: “Using 'cochino' to refer to a specific breed of pig.”
Correction: 'Cochino' is generally an informal synonym for 'cerdo' that often implies dirtiness or messiness; 'cerdo' is the neutral term.
puerco
PWEHR-kohˈpweɾko
Examples
Hay tres puercos en la granja.
There are three pigs on the farm.
Me gusta mucho comer carne de puerco.
I really like eating pork meat.
El puerco es un animal muy inteligente.
The pig is a very intelligent animal.
Masculine Word Ending
Since it ends in 'o', it uses masculine words like 'el' (the) or 'un' (a). To talk about multiple pigs, just add an 's' to make it 'puercos'.
Referring to Meat
In many Spanish-speaking countries, you add 'carne de' (meat of) before 'puerco' to specify you are talking about food rather than the animal.
Don't confuse with 'puerta'
Mistake: “La puerco está cerrada.”
Correction: La puerta está cerrada. 'Puerco' is a pig; 'puerta' is a door. They sound similar to beginners!
Cerdo vs. Puerco Nuance
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