Inklingo

How to Say "scapegoat" in Spanish

The Spanish word forscapegoatis chivoA2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.

English → SpanishA2

chivo

nounA2
when used in the phrase 'chivo expiatorio'
A small, fluffy young goat standing in a green meadow.

Examples

El chivo corre por el campo.

The young goat runs through the field.

En esta región, el chivo asado es un plato muy popular.

In this region, roasted goat is a very popular dish.

No me uses como tu chivo expiatorio para tus errores.

Don't use me as your scapegoat for your mistakes.

Chivo vs. Cabra

While both mean goat, 'chivo' usually refers to a young male goat, whereas 'cabra' is the general word for a female goat.

Making it Feminine

If you are talking about a young female goat, you change the ending to 'a' to get 'chiva'.

Don't use for all goats

Mistake:Using 'chivo' for a large, adult female goat.

Correction: Use 'cabra' for adult females and 'chivo' or 'cabrito' for young ones or males.

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