cebo
/ˈθebo/masculine
In Spanish, the word for bait is cebo. Wiktionary also lists carnada and señuelo.
Meaning: substance used in catching animals (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cebo | /ˈθebo/ /ˈsebo/ |
masculine |
| carnada | /kaɾˈnada/ | feminine |
| señuelo | /seˈɲwelo/ | masculine |
| carnaza | /kaɾˈnaθa/ /kaɾˈnasa/ |
feminine |
| añagaza | /aɲaˈɡaθa/ /aɲaˈɡasa/ |
feminine |
| enza | /enθa/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /ensa/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
The term refers to a substance used in catching animals.
Which one should you use?
Cebo refers to actual food used as bait. In contrast, señuelo is used in the context of fishing to refer to an artificial bait or lure, which mimics prey but is not necessarily edible.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, carnada is generally the preferred option for bait.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb cebar can mean to bait a hook, but it also means to fatten up animals or to overindulge/stimulate someone.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈθebo/
Did you know?
- While señuelo refers to a lure, it is also the specific term used in falconry for a decoy bird used to train hawks.
- The word cebo shares a common ancestor with the English word 'food', both stemming from the Latin 'cibus'.
- Using cebar to describe overindulging someone can imply a 'feeding' of their ego or their anger to make them react predictably.
Examples in context
- Puse el cebo en el anzuelo.I put bait on the hook.This sentence shows how to use cebo when placing it on a hook.Tatoeba #4438263 by pchamorro, translation #646896 by CK
- El mejor cebo para aves es el grano de trigo.The best bait for birds is wheat grain.This sentence demonstrates the use of cebo when discussing bait for birds.Tatoeba #10517569 by saverius, translation #12268491 by mollydot
- ¿Qué tipo de cebo usaste para atrapar estos peces?What kind of bait did you use to catch these fish?This sentence illustrates how to ask about the type of cebo used for catching fish.Tatoeba #10544796 by Seael, translation #10544793 by CK
- Para pescar con éxito, es fundamental utilizar un buen cebo.To fish successfully, it is essential to use good bait.
- Vamos a necesitar algo de carnada para pescar truchas mañana.We'll need some bait to fish for trout tomorrow.
- Si quieres atraer a los peces, deberías usar un buen engodo.If you want to attract fish, you should use good bait.
- Este señuelo es perfecto para atrapar truchas en lagos y ríos.This bait is perfect for catching trout in lakes and rivers.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are preparing their fishing gear by a lake.
- SofíaDaniel, ¿tienes el cebo en la caja?Daniel, do you have the bait in the box?
- DanielSí, pero creo que se acabó.Yes, but I think it ran out.
- SofíaNecesitamos comprar más cebo ahora mismo.We need to buy more bait right now.
- DanielTienes razón, vamos a la tienda.You are right, let's go to the store.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bait” translations and entries cebo, carnada, señuelo, carnaza, añagaza, enza, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carnada, cebo, señuelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
