Inklingo

How to Say "zoo" in Spanish

English → Spanish

zoo

/so-oh//ˈso.o/

nounA1informal
Use 'zoo' when referring specifically to the place where animals are kept for public exhibition, often in a casual context.
A simple storybook illustration of a giraffe and an elephant behind a wooden fence at a zoo.

Examples

Quiero ir al zoo para ver los leones.

I want to go to the zoo to see the lions.

El zoo está abierto todos los días.

The zoo is open every day.

Hay muchos animales exóticos en este zoo.

There are many exotic animals in this zoo.

It's a Boy!

Even though it's a short word, it's masculine. You always use 'el' or 'un' with it: 'el zoo'.

A Shortened Version

'Zoo' is just a shorter, easier way to say 'zoológico.' Both are used, but 'zoo' is very common in casual speech.

Gender confusion

Mistake: “La zoo es grande.”

Correction: El zoo es grande. Remember that words ending in 'o' are almost always masculine, even if they are short!

English Pronunciation

Mistake: “Pronouncing it like the English 'zoo' (with a buzzing 'z').”

Correction: In Spanish, the 'z' sounds like an 's' (in Latin America) or a 'th' (in Spain), and you must pronounce both 'o' sounds: /so-oh/.

zoológico

/so-oh-LOH-hee-koh//so.oˈlo.xi.ko/

nounA1
Use 'zoológico' for the place where animals are kept, functioning as a more formal or standard term for a zoo.
A friendly giraffe and an elephant standing behind a low wooden fence in a sunny park with trees.

Examples

Fuimos al zoológico para ver los elefantes.

We went to the zoo to see the elephants.

El zoológico de la ciudad es muy grande y tiene muchos árboles.

The city zoo is very big and has many trees.

¿A qué hora cierra el zoológico?

What time does the zoo close?

The Hidden 'O'

Notice there are two 'o's at the beginning. You should pronounce both clearly (so-oh) rather than sliding them together into one sound.

Always Masculine

When referring to the place (the zoo), it is always 'el zoológico.' It doesn't change even if there are only female animals inside!

Missing the Accent

Mistake: “zoologico”

Correction: zoológico

fauna

/fow-nah//ˈfawna/

nounC1figurative
Use 'fauna' metaphorically to describe a strange or chaotic group of people, not a place with animals.
A diverse group of quirky people standing together, such as a chef, a painter, and a musician.

Examples

Hay una fauna muy extraña en este bar nocturno.

There's a very strange crowd in this night bar.

Me gusta observar la fauna urbana en el parque.

I like to observe the urban characters in the park.

Metaphorical Use

When used for people, it's often used to imply that the group is diverse, colorful, or sometimes even a bit wild or messy.

Confusing 'fauna' with animal places

The most common mistake is using 'fauna' when you actually mean a place with animals. Remember, 'fauna' in Spanish is used figuratively for a group of people, like 'crowd' or 'bunch'. Only 'zoo' and 'zoológico' refer to the animal enclosure.

Related Translations

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