patito
/paˈtito/
The English phrase "baby duck" is patito in Spanish.
Patito literally refers to a young duck. However, it is also frequently used as a term of endearment for a small child or a significant other.
Which one should you use?
Patosito is an informal variation used in a friendly and playful way.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of patito is patitos.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈtito/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, the phrase el patito feo is used to describe someone who is underestimated or overlooked in their youth but grows up to be successful or attractive.
- In certain regions, saying someone is como un patito can refer to the way a person walks with a waddle, rather than their age or appearance.
- The word patito shares a linguistic lineage with the Latin '-ittus', a suffix often used to create small or endearing versions of words across various Romance languages.
Examples in context
- El patito nada en el estanque.The baby duck swims in the pond.
- Mira ese patito amarillo.Look at that yellow baby duck.
- Un patito se perdió de su madre.A baby duck got lost from its mother.
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are walking through a park.
- Sofía¿Viste al patito cerca de la hierba?Did you see the baby duck near the grass?
- JavierSí, es un patito muy bonito.Yes, it is a very pretty baby duck.
- SofíaParece estar buscando comida.It looks like it is looking for food.
- JavierEs muy tierno verlo caminar.It is very cute to see it walk.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry patito, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries patito, CC BY-SA 4.0.
